Slaughterhouse abuse

A slaughterhouse worker said that he was only following orders when he used a forklift to move downer cows at a California facility. Speaking from jail, Luis Sanchez told a California newspaper that he was taught how to move incapacitated animals by his supervisor.

"That's how I was taught. He taught me to do the work. I didn't know it was a serious crime," Mr. Sanchez told the San Bernardino Sun.

The case involving the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., based in Chino, Calif., was sparked by a videotape of animal abuse and resulted in the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

Mr. Sanchez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was being held at a detention center in Adelanto on immigration charges and unrelated drug charges.

His former boss, Daniel Ugarte Navarro, faces five felony counts of animal abuse and three misdemeanor counts of illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal.

What sparked the recall was an undercover videotape that showed workers forcing sick and lame cows to stand with electric prods and forklifts. Ill and injured animals are not supposed to be slaughtered for meat.

Had the Humane Society of the United States not taken the initiative to secretly film the abuse, it would still be happening.

The U.S. Agriculture Department, which issued the recall, should take steps to ensure that animals are being treated humanely and food safety rules are being followed at such facilities.