frenchie
Well-known member
Montana ranchers charge USDA targeting local processing plants
by Pete Hisey on 8/11/2005 for Meatingplace.com
The Montana Cattlemen's Association says it is "outraged" by the closing of the Ranchland Packing Co. slaughter plant in Butte, Mont., this week (See USDA shutters slaughterhouse for rodent infestantion, Meatingplace.com, Aug. 10, 2005.), claiming that USDA may be exacting revenge on Montana ranchers for their efforts to keep the Canadian border closed to live cattle and their support for Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund's lawsuit against USDA.
Dennis McDonald, president of MCA and also a member of R-CALF, said that the timing of the closing and sudden inspections of other plants in Missoula, Columbus and Beaverhead County was "disturbing. If you line up the dots, it's pretty obvious what is happening," he said.
A spokeswoman from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which monitors food safety within USDA, denied the charges and said that all plants are treated equally. Gary Wold, owner of the Ranchland plant, told the Associated Press that while he felt he was targeted for unknown reasons, some rodent droppings had been found in a meat locker. Ranchland had until Wednesday evening to develop an acceptable action plan to clean up its facilities and prevent future infestations.
But I thought they were concerned about consumer safety. :? .
by Pete Hisey on 8/11/2005 for Meatingplace.com
The Montana Cattlemen's Association says it is "outraged" by the closing of the Ranchland Packing Co. slaughter plant in Butte, Mont., this week (See USDA shutters slaughterhouse for rodent infestantion, Meatingplace.com, Aug. 10, 2005.), claiming that USDA may be exacting revenge on Montana ranchers for their efforts to keep the Canadian border closed to live cattle and their support for Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund's lawsuit against USDA.
Dennis McDonald, president of MCA and also a member of R-CALF, said that the timing of the closing and sudden inspections of other plants in Missoula, Columbus and Beaverhead County was "disturbing. If you line up the dots, it's pretty obvious what is happening," he said.
A spokeswoman from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which monitors food safety within USDA, denied the charges and said that all plants are treated equally. Gary Wold, owner of the Ranchland plant, told the Associated Press that while he felt he was targeted for unknown reasons, some rodent droppings had been found in a meat locker. Ranchland had until Wednesday evening to develop an acceptable action plan to clean up its facilities and prevent future infestations.
But I thought they were concerned about consumer safety. :? .