New York – State Senator Liz Krueger praised New York City schools officials for “their quick response” to reports that a major supplier of beef to the school system had been using beatings and other abusive practices on cows too sick to pass inspections. 

The action came after a Humane Society video showed sick cows being beaten, kicked, shocked with electricity and dragged with chains to force them to stand so they could pass inspection.  “This kind of abuse is unacceptable on humane grounds, and also puts our food supply at risk,” said Krueger.  “Animals too sick to stand are more likely to be carriers of disease, and we need to ensure that our schoolchildren are not exposed to pathogens through consumption of meat from downed animals.”

Krueger has sponsored legislation to promote the humane treatment of farm animals.  The “Downed Animal” bill, would prohibit the slaughter for human consumption of animals to sick to stand.  A downed animal is a farm animal too sick to stand (often a direct result of inhumane farming practices).  Downed animals are afflicted with a myriad of ailments besides mad cow disease.  USDA records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that USDA explicitly approved the consumption of meat from downed animals afflicted with hepatitis, gangrene, pneumonia, malignant lymphoma, and other ailments.  Downed animals are also more likely to harbor bacterial contamination than walking animals.