In late January, we covered the use of downed meat in the national school lunch program. The use of downed meat (meat from cows that cannot walk) is once again causing a stir, prompting the largest U.S. meat recall in history. Downed cows have weaker immune systems and are constantly wallowing in muck, mire, and feces, and are more likely to get infections and diseases than their able bodied counterparts. The major concern of the USDA is the possibility of a mad cow breakout from the wide use of downed meat, although officials say risk is truly minimal.

The recall is considered a class two recall, meaning that there is no known risk to human beings that eat the meat. The cows slaughtered for the meat in question were all born after the current mad cow restrictions were put in place, so risks to the health of the consumer is small. So why recall the meat? It was not produced according to regulations, so it must be recalled. Even with the recall, the majority of people will not have much to give back. The beef comes from the Westland/Hallmark Meat Packing Company and dates from February 2006 to the present, so most will have been consumed.