Guest editoral by Olive Rockfish
The figures for Minnesota alone are staggering and the concern isn’t just e-coli contamination the biggest concern is Mad Cow Disease also known as a variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a condition with a substantially longer incubation period.
In total Westland/Hallmark Meats distributed 27 million pounds of beef to the National School Lunch Program throughout the United States, some of which arrived here in local area schools. Reportedly, Minnesota school received a total of about 240,000 lbs of the beef in question. It is estimated that Minnesota students consumed 180,000 pounds by the time the USDA issued its advisory.
The criteria for obtaining contracts to supply beef to the National School lunch program is lowest price regardless of how many previous safety violations the facility has been cited for.
When pressed by reporters USDA officials admitted that Westland/Hallmark Meats had been cited for violations in 2002 and most recently in 2005. Currently, Minnesota schools are holding 60,000 lbs of beef while they await word from the USDA as to its safety.
Here are my thoughts: If the school is serving anything with ground beef send your child with a bag lunch or enough money to pick an alternative lunch line. The history of contaminated beef arriving at American schools is a disgrace. Until legislators establish food safety standards that take into consideration the facilities safety record, it’s just not worth the risk.
At the bottom on the page you’ll find a link that will allow you to send an email to your legislators, its an easy thing to do and your representative are already well aware of the issue. While your waiting for congress or the state legislature, place a call to your local school board member. School districts can establish standards that are higher than that of the state or federal government.
The following is a list of Minnesota school districts who obtained the beef in question:
| Schools that likely received Westland beef | CITY |
| Academia Cesar Chavez Charter | St. Paul |
| Academy of Saints Peter & Paul | Loretto |
| Ada – Borup, ISD #2854 | Ada |
| Adrian, ISD #511 | Adrian |
| Aitkin, ISD #1 | Aitkin |
| Albany, ISD #745 | Albany |
| Alexandria, ISD #206 | Alexandria |
| Annandale, ISD #876 | Annandale |
| Anoka, ISD #11 | Anoka |
| Arlington House School | St. Paul |
| Ascension Academy | Minneapolis |
| Ascension School | Minneapolis |
| Ashby, ISD #261 | Ashby |
| Austin, ISD #492 | Austin |
| Badger, ISD #676 | Badger |
| Bagley, ISD #162 | Bagley |
| Barnesville, ISD #146 | Barnesville |
| Bar-None Residential Treatment Service | Anoka |
| Barnum, ISD #91 | Barnum |
| Battle Lake, ISD #542 | Battle Lake |
| Beacon Academy | Plymouth |
| Becker, ISD #726 | Becker |
| Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, ISD #2364 | Brooten |
| Belle Plaine, ISD #716 | Belle Plaine |
| Bemidji, ISD #31 | Bemidji |
| Benson, ISD #777 | BENSON |
| Big Lake, ISD #727 | Big Lake |
| Blackduck, ISD #32 | Blackduck |
| Bloomington, ISD #271 | Bloomington |
| Braham, ISD #314 | BRAHAM |
| Brainerd, ISD #181 | Brainerd |
| Breckenridge, ISD #846 | Breckenridge |
| Brewster, ISD #513 | Brewster |
| Brooklyn Center, ISD #286 | Brooklyn Center |
| Browerville, ISD #787 | Browerville |
| Browns Valley, ISD #801 | Browns Valley |
| Buffalo, ISD #877 | BUFFALO |
| Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School | Bena |
| Burnsville, ISD #191 | Burnsville |
| Byron, ISD #531 | Byron |
| Cambridge – Isanti, ISD #911 | Cambridge |
| Campbell – Tintah, ISD #852 | Campbell |
| Cannon Falls, ISD #252 | Cannon Falls |
| Carlton, ISD #93 | Carlton |
| Cass Lake – Bena, ISD #115 | Cass Lake |
| Cathedral High School | St. Cloud |
| Centennial, ISD #12 | Lino Lakes |
| Central Lutheran School | St. Paul |
| Chaska, ISD #112 | Chaska |
| Chisago Lakes Schools, ISD #2144 | Lindstrom |
| Chisholm, ISD #695 | CHISHOLM |
| Chokio – Alberta, ISD #771 | Chokio |
| Circle of Life School | White Earth |
| Climax, ISD #592 | Climax |
| Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, ISD #2888 | Clinton |
| Cloquet, ISD #94 | Cloquet |
| Cold Spring, ISD #750 | Cold Spring |
| Columbia Heights, ISD #13 | Columbia Heights |
| Comfrey, ISD #81 | Comfrey |
| Concordia Creative Learning Academy | St. Paul |
| Cook County, ISD #166 | GRAND MARAIS |
| Cromwell-Wright, ISD #95 | Cromwell |
| Crosby – Ironton, ISD #182 | CROSBY |
| Cyrus, ISD #611 | Cyrus |
| Dassel – Cokato, ISD #466 | Cokato |
| Deer River, ISD #317 | Deer River |
| Delano, ISD #879 | Delano |
| Detroit Lakes, ISD #22 | Detroit Lakes |
| Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, ISD #2164 | Dilworth |
| Dover – Eyota, ISD #533 | Eyota |
| Duluth Public Schools Academy (Edison Charter) | Duluth |
| Duluth, ISD #709 | Duluth |
| East Central, ISD #2580 | Finlayson |
| East Grand Forks, ISD #595 | East Grand Forks |
| Eden Prairie, ISD #272 | Eden Prairie |
| Eden Valley – Watkins, ISD #463 | Eden Valley |
| Edgerton, ISD #581 | Edgerton |
| Edina, ISD #273 | Edina |
| El Colegio Charter School | Minneapolis |
| Elk River, ISD #728 | Elk River |
| Ellsworth, ISD #514 | Ellsworth |
| Ely, ISD #696 | ELY |
| Emanuel Lutheran School | HAMBURG |
| Epiphany School | Coon Rapids |
| Esko, ISD #99 | Esko |
| Evansville, ISD #208 | Evansville |
| Eveleth – Gilbert, ISD #2154 | EVELETH |
| Faribault Lutheran School | Faribault |
| Faribault, ISD #656 | Faribault |
| Farmington, ISD #192 | Farmington |
| Fergus Falls, ISD #544 | Fergus Falls |
| Fertile – Beltrami, ISD #599 | Fertile |
| Fisher, ISD #600 | Fisher |
| Floodwood, ISD #698 | Floodwood |
| Foley, ISD #51 | Foley |
| Fond Du Lac Ojibwe School | Cloquet |
| Forest Lake, ISD #831 | Forest Lake |
| Fosston, ISD #601 | Fosston |
| Frazee – Vergas, ISD #23 | Frazee |
| Fridley, ISD #14 | Fridley |
| Friendship Academy of Fine Arts | Minneapolis |
| General Vessey Leadership Academy | West St. Paul |
| Gethsemane Lutheran School | Maplewood |
| Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, ISD #2365 | Gibbon |
| Glencoe – Silver Lake, ISD #2859 | Glencoe |
| Good Shepherd School (Parkvalley) | Golden Valley |
| Goodhue, ISD #253 | Goodhue |
| Goodridge, ISD #561 | Goodridge |
| Grand Rapids, ISD #318 | Grand Rapids |
| Greenbush – Middle River, ISD #2683 | Greenbush |
| Greenway Schools, ISD #316 | Bovey |
| Grygla – Gatzke, ISD #447 | Grygla |
| Hancock, ISD #768 | HANCOCK |
| Harvest Prep Charter School | Minneapolis |
| Hastings, ISD #200 | Hastings |
| Hawley, ISD #150 | Hawley |
| Hayfield, ISD #203 | Hayfield |
| Henning, ISD #545 | Henning |
| Herman, ISD #264 | Herman |
| Hermantown, ISD #700 | Hermantown |
| Hibbing, ISD #701 | Hibbing |
| High School for Recording Arts | St. Paul |
| Higher Ground Academy | St. Paul |
| Hill City, ISD #2 | Hill City |
| Hillcrest Lutheran Academy | Fergus Falls |
| Hills – Beaver Creek, ISD #671 | Hills |
| Hinckley – Finlayson, ISD #2165 | Hinckley |
| Holdingford, ISD #738 | Holdingford |
| Holy Name of Jesus School | Wayzata |
| Holy Redeemer School | Marshall |
| Holy Redeemer School | Montgomery |
| Holy Spirit Parish | St. Cloud |
| Holy Trinity School | SOUTH ST PAUL |
| Holy Trinity School | Winsted |
| Hope Academy | Minneapolis |
| Hope Community Academy Charter | St. Paul |
| Hopkins – Golden Valley, ISD #270 | Hopkins |
| Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, ISD #2687 | Howard Lake |
| Hutchinson, ISD #423 | Hutchinson |
| International Falls, ISD #361 | International Falls |
| Inver Grove – Pine Bend, ISD #199 | Inver Grove Heights |
| Isle, ISD #473 | Isle |
| Ivanhoe, ISD #403 | Ivanhoe |
| Kelliher, ISD #36 | Kelliher |
| Kenyon – Wanamingo, ISD #2172 | Wanamingo |
| Kimball, ISD #739 | Kimball |
| King of Kings Lutheran School | Roseville |
| Kittson Central, ISD #2171 | Hallock |
| Lac Qui Parle Valley, ISD #2853 | Madison |
| Lake Benton, ISD #404 | Lake Benton |
| Lake of the Woods, ISD #390 | Baudette |
| Lake Park – Audubon, ISD #2889 | Lake Park |
| Lake Superior, ISD #381 | Two Harbors |
| Lakeview, ISD #2167 | Cottonwood |
| Lakeville, ISD #194 | Lakeville |
| Lancaster, ISD #356 | Lancaster |
| Laporte, ISD #306 | Laporte |
| Laurentian Enviromental Center | Britt |
| Le Center, ISD #392 | Le Center |
| Le Sueur – Henderson, ISD #2397 | Le Sueur |
| Learning for Leadership Charter School | Minneapolis |
| Lighthouse Academy of Nations | Minneapolis |
| Litchfield, ISD #465 | Litchfield |
| Little Falls, ISD #482 | Little Falls |
| Littlefork – Big Falls, ISD #362 | Littlefork |
| LoveWorks Academy for Visual & Performing Arts | Golden Valley |
| Lutheran High School | Mayer |
| Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota | Duluth |
| Luverne – Magnolia, ISD #2184 | Luverne |
| Lyle, ISD #497 | Lyle |
| Lynd, ISD #415 | Lynd |
| Madelia, ISD #837 | Madelia |
| Mahtomedi, ISD #832 | Mahtomedi |
| Mankato, ISD #77 | Mankato |
| Maple Lake, ISD #881 | Maple Lake |
| Maple River Schools, ISD #2135 | Mapleton |
| Marshall County Central, ISD #441 | Newfolden |
| Marshall, ISD #413 | Marshall |
| Mary Queen of Peace Catholic School | ROGERS |
| McGregor, ISD #4 | McGregor |
| Melrose, ISD #740 | Melrose |
| Mesabi Academy of Kids Peace | Buhl |
| Mesabi East Schools, ISD #2711 | Aurora |
| Metro Deaf School | St. Paul |
| Milaca, ISD #912 | Milaca |
| Minneapolis, Special District #1 | Minneapolis |
| Minneota, ISD #414 | Minneota |
| Minnesota Internship Charter School | Minneapolis |
| Minnesota Transitions Charter School | Minneapolis |
| Minnetonka, ISD #276 | Minnetonka |
| Minnewaska Area Schools, ISD #2149 | Glenwood |
| Montevideo, ISD #129 | Montevideo |
| Monticello, ISD #882 | Monticello |
| Moorhead, ISD #152 | Moorhead |
| Moose Lake, ISD #97 | Moose Lake |
| Morris, ISD #769 | Morris |
| Mounds View, ISD #621 | Shoreview |
| Mount Olive Lutheran School | Delano |
| Mountain Iron – Buhl, ISD #712 | Mountain Iron |
| Mountain Lake, ISD #173 | Mountain Lake |
| Murray County Central, ISD #2169 | Slayton |
| Nashwauk – Keewatin, ISD #319 | Nashwauk |
| Nativity of Our Lord School | St Paul |
| Naytahwaush Community Charter School | Naytahwaush |
| Nett Lake, ISD #707 | Nett Lake |
| Nevis, ISD #308 | Nevis |
| New City School | Minneapolis |
| New Heights School Inc | Stillwater |
| New Life Academy of Woodbury | Woodbury |
| New Millennium Academy | Minneapolis |
| New Prague, ISD #721 | New Prague |
| New Spirit Schools | St. Paul |
| New Ulm Area Catholic Schools | New Ulm |
| New Ulm, ISD #88 | New Ulm |
| New Visions Charter School | Minneapolis |
| Norman County East, ISD #2215 | Twin Valley |
| Norman County West, ISD #2527 | Hendrum |
| North Shore Community School | Duluth |
| North St. Paul – Maplewood, ISD #622 | North St. Paul |
| Northfield, ISD #659 | Northfield |
| Northland Community Schools, ISD #118 | Remer |
| Northwestern MN Juvenile Center | Bemidji |
| Northwood Childrens Home | Duluth |
| Nova Classical Academy | St. Paul |
| Odyssey Charter School | Brooklyn Center |
| Oklee, ISD #627 | OKLEE |
| Omegon Inc | Minnetonka |
| Orono, ISD #278 | Long Lake |
| Ortonville, ISD #62 | Ortonville |
| Osakis, ISD #213 | Osakis |
| Our Lady of Peace School | Minneapolis |
| Our Lady of Victory School | Fergus Falls |
| Owatonna, ISD #761 | Owatonna |
| Paideia Academy | Apple Valley |
| Park Rapids, ISD #309 | Park Rapids |
| Parkers Prairie, ISD #547 | Parkers Prairie |
| Paynesville, ISD #741 | Paynesville |
| Pelican Rapids, ISD #548 | Pelican Rapids |
| Pequot Lakes, ISD #186 | Pequot Lakes |
| Perham, ISD #549 | Perham |
| Perpich Center for Arts Education | Golden Valley |
| Pierz, ISD #484 | Pierz |
| Pilgrim Lutheran School | MINNEAPOLIS |
| Pine City, ISD #578 | Pine City |
| Pine Island, ISD #255 | Pine Island |
| Pine Point, ISD #25 | Ponsford |
| Pine River – Backus, ISD #2174 | Pine River |
| Pinnacle Programs | Magnolia |
| Port of Crow Wing County Inc | Brainerd |
| Prince of Peace Lutheran School | Spring Lake Park |
| Princeton, ISD #477 | Princeton |
| Prior Lake, ISD #719 | Prior Lake |
| Proctor, ISD #704 | Proctor |
| Ramsey County Community Corrections Dept | St. Paul |
| Red Lake County Central, ISD #628 | Plummer |
| Red Lake Falls, ISD #630 | RED LAKE FALLS |
| Red Lake, ISD #38 | Red Lake |
| Red Rock Central, ISD #2884 | Lamberton |
| Redeemer Lutheran School | Wayzata |
| Redwood Falls Area Schools, ISD #2897 | Redwood Falls |
| Richfield, ISD #280 | Richfield |
| Risen Christ School | Minneapolis |
| Robbinsdale, ISD #281 | New Hope |
| Rochester Central Lutheran School | Rochester |
| Rochester, ISD #535 | Rochester |
| Roseau, ISD #682 | Roseau |
| Rosemount, ISD #196 | Eagan |
| Rothsay, ISD #850 | Rothsay |
| Round Lake, ISD #516 | Round Lake |
| Royalton, ISD #485 | Royalton |
| RTR Public Schools, ISD #2902 | Tyler |
| Rush City, ISD #139 | Rush City |
| Sacred Heart School | East Grand Forks |
| Sacred Heart School | Freeport |
| Sacred Heart School | Sauk Rapids |
| Salvation Army Booth Brown House | ST PAUL |
| Samuel Lutheran School | MARSHALL |
| Sartell-St. Stephen, ISD #748 | Sartell |
| Sauk Centre, ISD #743 | Sauk Centre |
| Sauk Rapids, ISD #47 | Sauk Rapids |
| Shakopee, ISD #720 | Shakopee |
| Sheriffs Youth Programs of Minnesota | Inver Grove Heights |
| South Koochiching, ISD #363 | Northome |
| South St. Paul, Special District #6 | South St. Paul |
| South Washington County, ISD #833 | Cottage Grove |
| Spring Lake Park, ISD #16 | Minneapolis |
| Springfield, ISD #85 | Springfield |
| St. Agnes School | OSAKIS |
| St. Alphonsus School | Brooklyn Center |
| St. Ambrose of Woodbury School | Woodbury |
| St. Anns School | Wadena |
| St. Anthony – New Brighton, ISD #282 | St Anthony |
| St. Bernards School | Thief River Falls |
| St. Charles Borromeo School | Minneapolis |
| St. Cloud Childrens Home | St. Cloud |
| St. Cloud, ISD #742 | St. Cloud |
| St. Croix Catholic School | Stillwater |
| St. Dominic School | Northfield |
| St. Elizabeth Seton School | Minneapolis |
| St. Francis of Assisi School | Rochester |
| St. Francis Xavier School | Sartell |
| St. Francis, ISD #15 | St. Francis |
| St. Hubert School | Chanhassen |
| St. James Home of Duluth | Duluth |
| St. James, ISD #840 | St. James |
| St. John School | Rochester |
| St. John the Baptist School | Excelsior |
| St. John the Baptist School | Jordan |
| St. John the Baptist School | NEW BRIGHTON |
| St. John the Baptist School | Savage |
| St. John the Evangelist School | Little Canada |
| St. Johns Area Catholic School | Foley |
| St. Johns Lutheran School | Corcoran |
| St. Johns Lutheran School | Elk River |
| St. Josephs Catholic School | Rosemount |
| St. Josephs Home for Children | Minneapolis |
| St. Josephs School | Grand Rapids |
| St. Josephs School | Moorhead |
| St. Josephs School | Red Lake Falls |
| St. Louis County, ISD #2142 | Virginia |
| St. Louis Park, ISD #283 | St. Louis Park |
| St. Mark Lutheran School | New Germany |
| St. Marys School | Breckenridge |
| St. Marys School | MELROSE |
| St. Marys School | Morris |
| St. Matthew’s School | St. Paul |
| St. Michael – Albertville, ISD #885 | Albertville |
| St. Michaels School | MAHNOMEN |
| St. Paul, ISD #625 | St. Paul |
| St. Peter, ISD #508 | St. Peter |
| St. Philip School | Bemidji |
| St. Pius X School | Glencoe |
| St. Pius X School | Rochester |
| St. Therese School | Deephaven |
| Staples – Motley, ISD #2170 | Staples |
| Stephen – Argyle Central School, ISD #2856 | Stephen |
| Stewartville, ISD #534 | Stewartville |
| Stillwater, ISD #834 | Stillwater |
Sheesh!
According to investigative reporter Eric Schlosser’s book Fast Food Nation:
NBC News reported in 1983, Cattle King Packing Company, then the USDA’s largest supplier of ground beef for the NSLP, routinely mixed rotten meat into packages of hamburger meat. Their facility, infested with rats and cockroaches. The owner of the company, Rudy Stanko, was later tried and convicted for selling tainted meat to the federal government. Stanko had been convicted two year earlier on similar charges. His previous felony conviction didn’t inhibit his ability to supply the USDA with one-quarter of all ground beef served in the NSLP.
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