Humane society challenges meat industry over new law

[Guest guest]

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_11566469

Humane society challenges meat industry over new law

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer

Posted: 01/27/2009 04:21:45 PM PST

 

 

Advocates for the meat industry argue that a new state law barring animals

unable to walk from entering the meat supply would unfairly open slaughterhouse

employees to prosecution.

Animal advocates said the meat industry argument is hogwash.

 

The Humane Society of the United States filed legal action on Tuesday against a

meat industry lawsuit seeking to overturn California law that keeps " downer "

animals too sick to stand from being slaughtered for food.

 

Other animal-rights advocates have joined in support of the Humane Society's

opposition to the meat industry's challenge.

 

Gene Baur, president and CEO of Farm Sanctuary, a farm animal protection

organization, said the meat industry challenge to the law is " based on greed,

and a disrespect for animals and consumers. "

 

" This was a policy put into place by the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and

was being violated at the slaughterhouse in Chino and in response to the expose

by the Humane Society showing animal abuse there, this law was tightened, " Baur

said.

 

" The law made it explicitly clear downed animals are not into to go into the the

food supply. And the meat industry wants to continue selling them for food. "

 

The new state legislation, enacted last summer, came in the wake of the nation's

largest beef recall in history. The recall was sparked after the Humane Society

uncovered abuse at the Westland/Hallmark meat slaughterhouse in Chino.

 

Experts said the

 

 

--

 

Advertisement

 

--

risk of contracting Mad Cow disease is rare but increased with the human

consumption of non-ambulatory " downer " cattle, or beef from sick cows unable to

stand and walk.

Studies also suggest animals too sick or injured to stand may be more likely to

harbor bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella.

 

Proponents of the law, Assembly Bill 2098, said it strengthens the California

Downed Animal Protection Act by making it illegal for anyone to process and sell

animals too sick to stand.

 

Representatives from the National Meat Association and the American Meat

Institute said the law unduly opens the possibility of prosecution to employees

of hog companies - an unfair situation they say, considering the law was amended

in response to a health and animal abuse issue at a beef slaughterhouse.

 

Russell said at issue is whether the law applies to the handling of hogs that

are unwilling to move independently upon arrival at USDA-inspected

slaughterhouses and whether they are still fit for slaughter, when they may be

merely suffering from fatigue after transport.

 

Hogs may be able to recover with rest and food, Russell said.

 

" We have some hog slaughter companies in the state of California that are

concerned about the law's basic vagueness, which puts some of their employees at

risk for what is normal animal behavior, " he said.

 

Baur responded, " They said the same thing about cows ... That argument didn't

hold water then and it doesn't hold water now. "

 

Jonathan Lovvorn, legal counsel to the Humane Society, said the meat industry

had the chance to speak out against the amended law when it was being considered

in the Legislature last year, though they did not.

 

" They say they're concerned about pigs, but the suit they've filed, if they're

successful will have the effect of voiding the entire law, " Lovvorn said.

 

A preliminary hearing on whether the amended California law can be enforced

while the case is being decided will take place on Feb. 11 at the U.S. District

Court in Fresno.

 

 

 

 

 

" Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.

They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and

neither do we. "

--George W. Bush