In-N-Out said it severed ties with a Central California slaughterhouse accused of abusing its cows. (Susan Goldman / Bloomberg News. / August 21, 2012) |
Irvine-based
fast-food chain In-N-Out severed ties with a Central California slaughterhouse
after learning that the facility is being investigated for potentially inhumane
treatment of cows.
In-N-Out executives
said they cut off their supplier agreement with Central Valley Meat Co. on
Sunday night, immediately after hearing accusations that animals at the plant
were being shocked, shot and pulled to slaughter stations despite often being
unable to stand or walk.
The U.S.
Department of Agriculture shut the
Hanford site Monday after viewing a video from animal rights advocacy group
Compassion Over Killing.
According
to the Associated Press, the undercover footage shows pre-slaughter cows
bleeding and thrashing after failed attempts to render them unconscious using a
pneumatic gun.
In-N-Out, a
popular West Coast chain, said Central Valley was one of five beef suppliers on
its roster. Each week, the slaughterhouse supplied roughly 20% of the meat used
to make the company’s hamburger patties, according to Carl Van Fleet, the
chain’s executive vice president of planning and development.
“For the
time being, our existing suppliers are making up the shortfall,” Van Fleet
said.
Central
Valley also supplies a number of other food-service customers.
Federal
regulators are investigating whether some of the cows slaughtered for human
consumption were lame or sick. The latter is illegal.
In-N-Out
said it requires suppliers to meet USDA requirements and occasionally conducts
unannounced spot inspections of supplier facilities to ensure compliance.
Partners sign agreements promising not to sell meat from so-called downer
cattle that are unable to move.
“In-N-Out
Burger would never condone the inhumane treatment of animals and all of our
suppliers must agree to abide by our strict standards for the humane treatment
of cattle,” In-N-Out Chief Operating
Officer Mark Taylor said in a statement.
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