House committee subpoenas California meat packer

By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee voted unanimously on Wednesday to subpoena testimony from the head of Hallmark/Westland Meat Co, the California firm involved in the largest U.S. meat recall ever.

"The subcommittee's subpoena power is not a tool we like to utilize, but we will use it when necessary to provide proper oversight," said Rep. Bart Stupak, chairman of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigations.

Steve Mendell, president of Hallmark/Westland, was invited by the subcommittee to testify at a hearing on February 26 on the role companies play in recalls and food safety, but he did not appear. The subpoena orders Mendell to testify on March 12.

A woman at the Hallmark/Westland switchboard said the company was aware of the subpoena, was not making any statements and she had been ordered not to put any calls through.

A videotape released on January 30 by The Humane Society of the United States showed Hallmark/Westland workers using abusive techniques to force "downer" cattle unable to walk on their own into the slaughterhouse. It later led to the recall of 143 million pounds of meat, mostly beef, making it the largest recall in U.S. history.

The meat was recalled because the plant butchered downer cattle in violation of federal rules. Beef from downer cattle -- where the animal is too ill or injured to walk -- is usually not allowed in the food supply. The rule was adopted as a safeguard against "mad cow" disease.

Last week, the Humane Society filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Agriculture Department, asking it to ban all downer cattle from being processed into food.

"The unanimous support of Democrats and Republicans on the Committee should send a clear message to Mr. Mendell that he cannot ignore congressional authority on this important issue, which has already caused enormous problems for so many school districts, businesses and seniors' facilities," added Stupak.

USDA's Office of the Inspector General is investigating to see what individuals at the plant were responsible, and whether the case was an isolated incident.

Since the investigation began, three USDA employees have been placed on administrative leave, according to Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer who said he had no timetable for when the Inspector General's office would release its report.

"We're anxiously awaiting to find the outcome so we can make the appropriate changes, and influence the behavior appropriately of people who may have broken the rules and regulations," said Schafer.

Last week, he told a Senate subcommittee that until the investigation is completed, USDA will increase time used by inspectors to verify humane handling practices are followed, prioritize inspections at plants where violations are most likely to occur and increase frequency of unannounced audits at the 23 slaughter facilities that provide beef for federal food programs.

(Reporting by Christopher Doering; editing by Matthew Lewis)