Investigation prompts Seattle schools to stop serving beef

A federal investigation into one of the largest meat suppliers for schools across the nation prompted Seattle Public Schools on Thursday to halt serving beef to its students.

The U.S. Agriculture Department announced this week that it would investigate Westland Meat Co. of Chino, Calif., after undercover cameras apparently showed a slaughterhouse using so-called "downer cows" who are sick or injured.

Federal law prohibits slaughterhouses from using downer cows. There is no indication that the meat sold to schools was contaminated or that students have gotten sick by eating it.

The slaughterhouse, Hallmark Meat Packing, is associated with Westland Meat.

Westland is the second largest supplier of beat in the nation to the school lunch program, according to The Oregonian newspaper in Portland.

On Thursday, the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction contacted numerous school districts in the state about the beef.

David Tucker, a spokesman for Seattle Public Schools, said the district had been warned about certain lots of beef, but the district decided to put at least a temporary halt to serving all beef.