Federal regulators allowed a Hanford slaughterhouse to reopen on Monday after it was shut down over accusations of animal cruelty and violating food safety regulations.More >> Three Central California congressmen cited the region's high unemployment Thursday while asking the federal government to reopen a slaughterhouse at the center of a cruelty and food safety investigation.More >> Federal regulators shut down a Hanford slaughterhouse Monday after receiving undercover video that reportedly showed dairy cows being repeatedly shocked and shot before being slaughtered.More >>
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is resuming purchases of meat from a Central California slaughterhouse that's been at the center of an animal cruelty investigation.
A statement from the USDA sent Monday said that Central Valley Meat Company's improved oversight for animal welfare prompted the government to reinstate purchases for federal feeding programs.
Officials with the Food Safety and Inspection Service concluded last week that inspectors found no evidence of sick cattle entering the food supply after an undercover video showed workers kicking and shocking downed cattle in an attempt to herd them to slaughter.
The USDA will conduct quarterly audits at the Hanford company until it successfully completes four audits in a row.
The government suspended its purchases last month after the video shot by the animal welfare organization Compassion Over Killing showed inhumane treatment of animals.
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