The US Department of Agriculture ordered the recall of 143 million pounds (65 million kg) of beef from a Southern California slaughterhouse amid fears the use of crippled cattle could increase the risk of human exposure to mad cow disease or pathogens such as E.coli.

Crippled cows video sparks massive US beef recall
Much of the meat subject to the recall has already been eaten

Some of the meat was destined for use in school lunches.

The undercover footage, obtained by the Humane Society of the United States, shows workers kicking crippled cows, spraying them with water and using electric shocks, trucks and chains to force the cattle to walk and pass USDA inspection.