Hallmark/Westland Beef Recall – Information for School Officials & Parents

	On Feb. 17, 2008, the USDA notified States that beef produced by the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company from Feb. 1, 2006, to Feb. 4, 2008 was voluntarily recalled due to regulatory noncompliance.
	Some of the USDA commodity beef supplied to the National School Lunch Program was produced by Hallmark/Westland. In addition, schools may have purchased Hallmark/Westland beef commercially.
	On Jan. 30, 2008, USDA instructed all school districts to hold and immediately discontinue use of any Hallmark/Westland commodity beef products in their inventory.
	Products affected by the recall are no longer being served in schools. To minimize disruption to school food service operations, USDA is working closely with States to quickly provide replacement commodity product from validated sources or credit their commodity entitlement accounts.
	USDA has given assurance that the health risk of consuming the affected beef is negligible. USDA remains confident in the safety of the food supply, including beef and other products available through the National School Lunch Program.
	No reports of illness have been associated with the affected product.

For more information, please visit www.usda.gov/actions.
 

Last updated: 10/29/2008