Feinstein Proposes 'Office of Humane Slaughter'

Reports out of Washington, D.C., are that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is planning to propose legislation to create an Office of Humane Slaughter within USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Feinstein sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, citing the recent Humane Society of the United States video of inhumane treatment of veal calves at a packing plant in Vermont. The facility involved was Bushways Packing Co., in Grande Isle, Vt., which was shut down. According to Feinstein, the planned legislation would authorize new funding to hire additional FSIS inspectors, as well as close any loopholes that allow downed calves to be slaughtered. It would also direct USDA to develop standards for treating and transporting calves to be sold as bob veal...read more