USDA buying meat again from Calif. slaughterhouse

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

photo A security guard opens the gate at the Central Valley Meat Co., the California slaughterhouse shut down by federal regulators after they received video showing dairy cows being repeatedly shocked and shot before being slaughtered, on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 in Hanford, Calif. Federal regulators are investigating whether beef from sick cows reached the human food supply. (AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka)

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is buying meat again from a Central California slaughterhouse that's been at the center of an animal cruelty investigation.

A statement the USDA issued Monday says that Central Valley Meat Co.'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 there was 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 seeing the video recorded by the animal welfare organization Compassion Over Killing.