September 2, 2010

USDA temporarily shuts Cargill's Illinois pork plant

Cargill Inc has resumed its Beardstown, Illinois, pork plant operations on Wednesday (Sept 1) after being shut late on Tuesday (Aug 31) by an USDA official for an animal handling issue.

Improper unloading of hogs from a truck prompted the shutdown. Cargill spokesman Mike Martin said the company is investigating the incident and steps have been taken to ensure that proper animal handling procedures are followed.

"We take animal welfare very seriously," he said.

The plant, which can slaughter up to 18,500 hogs a day, lost about 9,000 head of production on Tuesday (Aug 31). "That production will be made up this week and possibly on Saturday (Sept 4)," said Martin.