212. Don’t Eat the Meat 

The Meatland Packing Company is a cattle slaughterhouse southern California. Because of rumors that workers were animals, a member of the Humane Society managed visit the slaughterhouse one day. With his video , he secretly filmed a worker prodding a lame with an electric shock stick, a worker pushing sick cow with the metal bars of a , and a worker shooting water from a hose the nostrils of a sick cow. He filmed forklift operator lifting and transporting dead cows onto "kill floor." The video made national TV news. workers told federal investigators that they were only orders.

The US Department of Agriculture requires humane of sick and lame cows. It allows the of healthy cows only. Meatland Packing Company is major beef supplier to US school systems and food outlets. USDA demanded a recall of all beef—143 million pounds, the largest amount of beef recalled in the US. “Unfortunately,” said a health , “the USDA became aware of the problem too .” Almost all of the beef had been consumed the recall was announced.

“Consumers got lucky this ,” the official said. “We haven’t had one report illness. Next time consumers won’t be so lucky. there will be a next time, because USDA only five percent of the nation's meat supply.” federal prosecutor has charged two Meatland supervisors with animal cruelty. Both men could spend six years prison if convicted. The Humane Society asked the to donate more money to help it prevent cruelty to animals.