| Waterboarding legal when CIA used it
Department of Agriculture should provide a loud and clear wake-up call that federal inspection is not adequate to ensure a safe meat supply ("A gap in food safety," Feb. 19). This largest meat recall in U.S. history was brought about because of an animal rights organization's undercover video showing California slaughterhouse workers using kicks, electric shock, high-pressure water hoses and a forklift to force sick or injured animals onto the killing floor. USDA regulations prohibit sick animals from entering the food supply, because of the high risk of contamination by E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease. About 37 million pounds of the recalled meat went to school lunch and other federal nutrition programs since October 2006, and "almost all of it is likely to have been consumed," according to a USDA official.
USDA hold on beef has little impact on PBC schools
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's administrative hold on ground beef processed by the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. had little impact on Palm Beach County schools. "School menus were only affected one day," said a news release issued by the county School District. Lori Dornbusch, assistant director of site-based operations, said a "sparse" number of schools had to substitute chicken, turkey or other federally acceptable food item for beef on one day. She said she did not know if any schools in Boca Raton or Delray Beach were affected. USDA placed an administrative hold on all Hallmark/Westland products because of potential violations of regulatory requirements and contractual terms as a supplier of products to the federal food and nutrition programs.
California beef problems affect North Dakota lunchrooms
North Dakota schools are waiting for word on whether they can use hundreds of cases of ground beef from a California slaughterhouse under federal investigation.If the meat cannot be used, it might mean added expense for some school districts.Districts in North Dakota and several other states stopped using meat from Hallmark Meat Packing Co. and its associated Westland Meat Co. late last month under direction from the Agriculture Department, after a video showed workers brutalizing sick and crippled cows.The Hallmark plant is being investigated for possible violation of laws designed to ensure food safety and prevent animal cruelty.Westland sold more than 27 million pounds of beef last year for use in school lunch and other federal nutrition programs. USDA has extended a ban on use of meat from the Chino, Calif., slaughterhouse until Tuesday.
Thinking of spring training, Francoeur’s future
It was good to see him focus on being more patient at the plate and he had a lot more quality ABs as a result last year. It would have been nice if he had been a little more aggressive at the plate in some situations last year, especially since Andruw Jones wasn't picking up the slack. Singles to right are good, but sometimes the #5 guy needs to pick a spot to drive pitches when runners are on. My guess is that's part of the learning process and he's gonna have a monster season this year. .
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