SOURCE: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 2/13/14

A bipartisan group of 72 Congress members are asking the USDA to ban the slaughter of downer calves for food.
The group, led by Reps. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) and Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), wrote a letter asking the agency “close a loophole” in federal regulations that allows the processing of downer calves.

The letter follows USDA’s shutdown of Shrewsbury, N.J.-based veal and lamb processor Catelli Brothers Inc. for inhumane practices caught on a video captured by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

HSUS petitioned USDA in 2009 on the matter, “but USDA has not moved forward on this,” the group said in a news release.

USDA said in a statement emailed to Meatingplace that the agency "is actively engaged in ensuring the humane slaughter of veal calves, as well as other livestock.  We are completing the preliminary steps that are necessary to send our proposed rule on downer calves to [the Office of Management and Budget]."

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