Hallmark Meat: Not so total recall

...in which the Hallmark Meat 'recall' gets watered down. Even more.

I am really trying to wrap my brain around something and not having much luck. Read this and tell me what I am missing.

"If a processor or grinder has records demonstrating that products were produced using less than 100% of recalled Westland meat for the meat component, then there is no need...to retrieve that 'commingled' product,"  Beef Industry Presses For Reduced Recall - WSJ.com

So if I understand this correctly, if you take the meat that might be from downer cars and you spread it around, then it is okay? Because if it's only one bite of your child's school lunch you won't mind. What's that? You do mind? You are such a picky parent!

Lots of folks have written about Hallmark, so if you want to read more of the original outrage, check out one of these sites:

• Largest Beef Recall in US History a Natural Consequence of Industrial Agricultural Practices
  In the crystal ball: a future headline about the meat recall 
• 143 million pounds of beef recalled but everything's fine
• Laugh so you don’t cry!
• Another downer: The school lunch program

If you need a laugh, albeit a through gritted teeth because it's only funny if you aren't eating lunch, check out Mark Fiore's Doreen the Downer.

This, however, reminds me of that Noka Chocolate guy. Oh, I mean, totally disconnected guy who wrote comments defending Noka Chocolate out of the goodness of his heart and then was hired by Noka Chocolate to be their PR guy in a totally disconnected incident happening within 24 hours of said comments.

I realize I should have some great action item here, you know, write Congress or the USDA or something, but...not so much. Call it fatalism if you will but I don't think it will make a darned bit of difference what we say to the government. Like Lily Tomlin's telephone company, they don't care, they don't have to.

So what can you do? Stop buying industrial beef. Period.

Sure, that means less beef but that's not such a bad thing. Consider it an opportunity to expand your usual menu options, find some local meat producers, or go vegetarian for a month. Paying through the nose for meat that is, at best, marginal and, at worst, really awful, is no longer an option. At least not for me. I'd rather eat cake.

Comments

[MizD]

My eyes went O_O at that first paragraph. You have got to be kidding me. It's like a Python sketch. "Oh, it's just got a little bit of rat in it..."

If, for some reason, local non-industrial beef isn't an option and going vegetarian (or buying lamb or pork) isn't an option, then the next best thing is to set a house rule: no pre-ground beef. If you want to make burger patties, grind 'em yourself. And tell the kids to steer clear of the tacos at lunchtime.

[Kevin]

KM,

According to Dr. Kenneth Petersen at the USDA:

"I guess theoretically to get to some infinitesimal, immeasurable level even very small fractions – let's make a number up, a half of 1 percent – if a product had half of 1 percent of Hallmark, then that product will have to be removed from commerce and destroyed."

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/02/0054.xml

[Idaho Locavore]

Good Grief. So if it's only 99% Hallmark downer cow ground beef, it's okay? And most of it's already been eaten? Well, I guess there's no way to retrieve that portion of the recalled beef, but what is going to be done about it? Is it going to be ignored, or will there be fines, or some compensation made? Sheesh.

We're using up the last of our factory farm meats from the freezer right now, and I've already got local sources for most meat items lined up to replace it. I've had enough - this is three major recalls in less than a year and with the other stuff I've been reading about factory farms, I'm just not willing to play the game anymore. We're outta there.

[kitchenMage]

Miz D, The entire thing is mind-boggling.

Kevin, Interesting link. I think part of the problem is the lack of consistency - one person says one thing, the next something else. And truly, arguing after the cow has been forklifted out of the barn.

Idaho Locavore, We moved recently and one of my things to bring back from weekends at our 'other place' is meat - local beef, lamb, and chicken - have to take a bogger cooler next time.

[Amber]

Wonderful!! Thank you for posting about this topic...

[Ryan]

or go vegetarian for a month

Or longer! :)