McDonald’s on Thursday announced that it has halted all meat purchases from a California meat supplier accused of the “egregious, inhumane handling and treatment of livestock.” Federal inspectors for the USDA temporarily shut down the plant this week to investigate its alleged crimes.

In  a statement regarding the cancellation of orders, a McDonald’s spokesperson noted:

“Central Valley Meat (CVM) provided raw beef to several of our suppliers. However, upon learning about USDA’s decision to suspend CVM, we took immediate action and suspended supply from this facility, pending further investigation.”

The plant was shut down after the animal cruelty watchdog group Compassion Over Killing obtained a hidden camera video of cattle that could barely walk being prodded with electric prods while “downer cows” were treated inhumanely.

Following the incident, the plant’s largest buyer, In-N-Out Burger, suspended its own purchases. In-N-Out was purchasing 20 to 30 percent of its required meet from the plant at the time of the suspension.

The beef processing plant also sells meet to various school districts and was responsible for 21 million pounds of meat sales to the USDA in 2011, 15.7 percent of the agencies overall meat purchases for the year.

“McDonald’s cares about how our food is sourced and we have a long history of action and commitment to improve the welfare of animals in our supply chain. There are behaviors in the video which appear to be unacceptable and would not adhere to the standards we demand of our suppliers.”

McDonald’s purchases less than 10 percent of its meat from CVM and will use already existing partnerships to purchase any additionally required beef product.

McDonald’s Suspends Meat Purchases From Processing Plant Accused Of Animal Cruelty is a post from: The Inquisitr