Market For Downer Cow Beef Is Dying

More and More supermarkets are refusing to purchase any meat made from what's commonly called a "downer cow".

Our KIRO team 7 investigation uncovers that customers are starting to ask tough questions about where their beef comes from.

Downers are cattle that can't walk on their own into a slaughterhouse, and are banned for sale in many Washington sale barns.

However, with proper inspection, it is legal to slaughter them for food.

When Federal meat inspectors do their jobs, they're suppose to ask themselves this question.

"Does it meet the consumers expectations?"

In the case of most downer dairy cows, USDA inspectors have been saying yes.

Consumers however don't usually agree.

Some of the biggest beef buyers in the country, such as Safeway, Albertsons, and the federal school lunch program, all refuse to buy any beef derived from dairy cows that arrive at slaughterhouses in "downer" condition.

For example, Safeway tells KIRO Team 7 Investigators:

"We have very high quality specifications for our ground beef. Our Suppliers sign agreements so they do not sell products to us from downer cattle."

Safeway's response comes after KIRO Team 7 Investigators videotaped downer transactions at Midway Meats in Chehalis.

Last fall, we aired a series of reports raising questions about inspection and humane treatment of dying, sick or crippled dairy cattle.

University of Washington marketing guru Richard Yalch says big meat buyers have started taking a tough-and-very-public stand against downer meat, or risk alienating customers.

"Most supermarkets want to talk about 'We have the best meat', best this, best that. Taking meat from a sick or hurt animal would certainly counter that kind of claim."

The majority of consumers we talked with say even if these crippled or sick cows were properly inspected, they'd prefer to eat beef from a healthier source.

"It shouldn't go in at all, it should be destroyed."

"I think it's pretty sad. There need to be more investigation into this kind of thing if the product is eventually coming to consumers."

And if downer meat continues to be mixed into our food, many beef eaters who watched our investigation support "labeling".

"I think all of our food should be labeled. Whether it be genetically engineered or of substandard quality, or something different that what we expect as average consumers. We deserve to be protected with that kind of disclosure.

Adam Karp agrees. He's an attorney for Pasado's Safe Haven, the animal rights organization credited with helping pass Washington's Cruelty to Animals law. They should know that downer cows are being included in the product. They should also be aware that the animal in the product may not be humanely slaughtered.

He says there is a national movement to outlaw the use of downers for human consumption. However, a dwindling marketplace for the product might end the sale of the meat long before we see any new regulation.

We asked Midway Meats, the Washington State Beef Commission and the Dairy Products Commission to talk to us regarding this story and they refused. That entire group has been complaining to KIRO-TV about unfair coverage of this topic.