By FREDERIC J. FROMMER – 4 days ago

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A government inspection of slaughterhouses found significant problems with the treatment of cattle and two of the nation’s largest beef processors — both of which provide meat for the National School Lunch Program — were slapped with humane handling violations.

One of those companies’ violations was rescinded after the company appealed, The Associated Press has learned.

Audits by the Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service resulted in "noncompliance" records to a National Beef Packing Co. plant in Dodge City, Kan., and a Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Fresno, Calif., according to information obtained by the AP under a Freedom of Information Act request.

The audits of 18 slaughterhouses found that some cattle were not being stunned properly on the first try, others were subject to overcrowding conditions, and others had to be electrically prodded to get them to move.