Feds To Bill Slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse Will Pay $67M For Beef Recall

POSTED: 1:54 pm PDT April 10, 2008
UPDATED: 2:44 pm PDT April 10, 2008


CHINO, Calif. -- The federal government will bill a California slaughterhouse more than $67 million for expenses associated with the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service said the bill for Westland/Hallmark Co. could rise as high as $117 million when final expenses are tallied up.

The agency recalled 143 million pounds of beef after the Humane Society of the United States released undercover video showing plant employees abusing sick or weakened cows.

School districts and states spent millions destroying the beef to comply with the recall.

If the slaughterhouse can't pay -- which is likely -- taxpayers will pick up the bill.

An attorney for slaughterhouse owner Steve Mendell did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.


Previous Stories:
February 19, 2008: Clark County Schools Not Using Beef
October 1, 2007: Co. Expands Recall For Tainted Beef

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