Recently, the USDA announced the largest recall of beef in the nation's history -- 143 million pounds.  A significant number of "downer" cows -- cows too sick to stand -- had been processed into beef, despite USDA rules forbidding this.  A substantial portion of the recalled beef was distributed to schools for school lunches.

Meat from sick cows should not be eaten because it is more likely to contain harmful bacteria or transmittable disease. Is that meat in your refrigerator? Was it delivered to your child's school? Finding that out isn't easy.  USDA knows, but it won't tell you.

Tell the Secretary of Agriculture to disclose the stores and schools that received the recalled meat immediately. USDA should inform the public immediately about all retail stores and institutions involved in meat recalls!

Dear Secretary of Agriculture,

I want to know whether my supermarket carried any beef processed at the Hallmark/Westland facility that was involved in the recall announced February 20, 2008. I urge you to disclose this information immediately.

In addition, I ask that you to issue a final rule on permanent disclosure of all retailers who received recalled meat and poultry. You discussed making this information available in a draft rule on March 7, 2006, almost two years ago. The USDA should not keep the names of stores, schools, nursing homes and other institutions that are involved in a meat recall secret. This is essential information for the public to know.

As a consumer, if I have a recalled product in my refrigerator, I would like to know this so that I can discard it. If recalled meat has been delivered to my local school district, I want to know that too, so I can be sure it is not fed to kids.
Recalled products can carry disease-causing bacteria that could make me and my family sick. Unless I know whether the stores where I shop are involved in a recall, it is extremely difficult for me to know if I have bought a recalled product.

[Your Comments]

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]