Irvine-based fast-food chain In-N-Out severed ties with a Central California slaughterhouse after Federal regulators shutdown operations and is being investigated for potentially inhumane treatment of cows and whether beef was used from sick cows.
In-N-Out Burger bought and used beef from the Central Valley Meat Co. of Hanford, Calif. in their hamburger patties, until the U.S. Department of Agriculture closed the plant Monday after receiving a video authorities said showed inhumane treatment. The video also appears to show workers bungling the slaughter of cows struggling to walk and even stand. Under federal regulations, sick animals cannot be slaughtered for human consumption, according to the Associated Press.
Compassion Over Killing shot the undercover footage which shows pre-slaughter cows bleeding and thrashing after failed attempts to render them unconscious using a pneumatic gun.
"We have reviewed the video and determined that while some of the footage provided shows unacceptable treatment of cattle, it does not show anything that would compromise food safety," Al Almanza, administrator of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, told CNN.
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 percent 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.
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.
