No Contaminated Beef Served In Newtown Schools

By Martha Coville

Newtown parents and students concerned about the contaminated beef served in school cafeterias across the state and country can rest easy.

“Absolutely no contaminated beef was purchased” by the Newtown school district, said Daniel L. Shields, the director, dining services for Chartwells. Chartwells employees purchase the district’s lunches from the USDA, plan its menus, and serves lunches to students.

The latest mass beef recall, by the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company out of California, occurred when the Humane Society filmed the company shoveling “downer cattle” through the slaughterhouse with forklifts. “Downer” cows are those too sick to walk without assistance. Meat from sick cows is more likely to infect humans with viruses like e-coli, and its sale is prohibited by the USDA

The Westland/Hallmark recall has parents and legislatures particularly upset because much of the contaminated beef was apparently sold to school lunch districts.

Mr Shields said, “We speculate that the beef [purchased for school lunch programs] has already been consumed.” But, he said, “There haven’t been any outbreaks or illnesses in the state of Connecticut, in school districts.”

Recalled beef was shipped to the Bridgeport school district, as well as to Cheshire, Chester, Essex, Glastonbury, Groton, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Norwich, Region 14, in Woodbury, Simsbury, Waterbury, and West Haven.