U.S. investigating allegations of downed cow in California plant

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WASHINGTON — U.S. inspectors say they are trying to determine whether Central Valley Meat Co., a slaughterhouse in California that supplies beef to the nation’s school lunch program, used lame “downer” cattle against federal rules.

The Agriculture Department said it’s investigating whether cattle that were too sick to stand or walk were slaughtered, a practice that is banned because of the risks for mad cow disease. The facility in Hanford, Calif., was shut down Sunday after regulators received video of slaughter practices and confirmed “inhumane handling violations,” the agency said late Monday. No meat has been recalled.

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