On February 17, 2008 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it was expanding the Westland/Hallmark Meats recall stating that they had not conducted complete and proper inspections dating back to Feb. 2006 prompting the largest beef recall in U.S. history.
143 million pounds of beef has been deemed “unfit for human consumption”. Beef included in the recall was not available for direct purchase by consumers instead it was sent to wholesale distributors nationwide in bulk packages including the National School Lunch Program. It is assumed that the majority of the beef included in this 2 year recall has already been consumed. While there have been no reported illness associated with this recall the incubation period for the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD – the human form of Mad Cow diseases) could be as long as 50 years according to some British reports, while the USDA’s website indicated a time period ranging from months up to 8 years and is said to begin with psychiatric symptoms.
The USDA went on to order all beef product included in the recall to be destroyed. This includes the 60,000 lbs of beef currently being held by Minnesota schools. The following is a list of schools in Minnesota who served or are holding beef included in this recall. Local school districts effected are Little Falls, Holdingford, Pierz, and Royalton.
| 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 |
According to the USDA’s website:
Any Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. products in the Federal food and nutrition programs, or its derivatives, must be destroyed and cannot be used or reconditioned for human consumption. All disposal methods must be fully documented regarding type of product and destruction method and witnessed with two signatures. Entities holding 50 cases or less may destroy the product on-site by rendering the product unfit for human consumption according to destruction guidance from the State or local health authority. Quantities greater than 50 cases must be taken to a landfill, incinerated, or sent for inedible rendering. FNS has provided destruction verification forms to all affected States.
Since 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 we urge you to contact your legislators and urge them to beef up the safety standards for beef destine for school lunch.
Fast food chains who purchased beef from Westland/ Hallmark include California based Jack In the Box and In N Out. Reportedly, McDonalds and Burger King restaurants have not purchase from Westland/Hallmark.
USDA Q &A on Westland/ Hallmark Meats 2 year recall
Minnesota Schools Serve 180,000 lbs of Questionable Beef
Free and Reduced Lunch: Getting What You Paid For
April 7, 2008 at 11:49 am
[...] Hallmark Meats, Mad Cow, Westland Meats | Just as fears over the largest beef recall in U.S. history began to dissipate, today Reuter, Madrid reported the deaths of 2 people in Spain who recently [...]