USDA releases recall list

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a list Thursday of all school districts nationwide that received beef included in last month’s recall of 143 million pounds from a California slaughterhouse.

Those districts include several from the area previously reported, plus some not previously listed: Clovis, Portales, Melrose, Grady, Texico, Logan, San Jon, Floyd, Dora, Elida, Fort Sumner, Farwell and Muleshoe.

Clovis had reported that two of 119 cases of beef were used, and Dora reported that three of five cases had been used.

Melrose and Grady said they did not use any of the beef. Other schools previously reported as receiving the beef had not said whether any of the beef was used.

All the unused beef was destroyed. School officials the Clovis News Journal contacted said there were no reported illnesses and state officials said there was no health risk from consuming the recalled meat.

The 226-page federal document listed “school food authorities” — the rough equivalent of school districts — that received the meat. It was released after pressure from federal lawmakers, including Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Conn.

A USDA spokeswoman did not immediately return an e-mail requesting comment.

The agency issued the largest beef recall in U.S. history last month after the Humane Society of the United States released undercover video showing workers at Chino-based Hallmark/Westland Meat Co. forcing sick cows to stand with forklifts, electric prods and high-pressure water hoses.

The slaughterhouse was a major supplier of ground beef to the National School Lunch Program.

Thursday’s list was the first complete disclosure by the USDA.