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USDA Hold On Beef Affects Hillsborough School Lunches

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By MARILYN BROWN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 5, 2008

Updated: 02/04/2008 11:45 pm

TAMPA - Hamburgers, tacos and spaghetti with meatballs are off the lunch menu for students in Hillsborough County after the U.S. Department of Agriculture put a hold on the beef.

It's part of a national administrative hold placed on beef as Westland Meat's slaughtering practices are investigated, said Mary Kate Harrison, Hillsborough's general manger of student nutrition services.

"It was a wise decision," Harrison said, although she said she doesn't know how much of the district's beef comes from the company involved.

The district doesn't buy any raw beef, but does buy formed hamburgers, taco beef mix and other processed or formed meat through a Lakeland distributor that does business with the company.

The district has been getting alerts from the state Department of Agriculture regarding the hold since Thursday, Harrison said.

"Some of the slaughtering practices could increase the possibility of contamination," she said. The district's supplier is "trying to get more direction as well."

"It'll make kind of a dent in our menu," Harrison said. As of Friday, no beef has been sold, she said.

Chicken and Cuban pork is being substituted and hot dogs made of turkey are being served.

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069 or mbrown@tampatrib.com.

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