LOS ANGELES ---- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Sunday, Feb. 17th, the recall of 143 million pounds of raw and frozen beef from a troubled Chino, Calif, meat - packing company, deeming it unfit for human consumption because of lapses in required inspections.

Agriculture Department officials called this the largest beef recall in the United States, surpassing the ban in 1999 of 35 million pounds of ready to eat meat. The U.S.D.A. said there was a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product. The cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, according to a news release issued by the U.S.D.A. Food Safety and Inspection Service in Washington, D.C.

Information received by the federal agency shows that Hallmark / Westland Meat Packing Co. did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian as required when cattle became non - ambulatory after being inspected. Department spokesman Keith Williams noted that Sunday's beef recall, while the largest in history, was not based on the same levels of concern for public health as in some prior recalls.

There is a remote probability of any serious health concern, but we are taking this action because of our regulations and an abundance of caution. Problems at the plant, abouit 35 miles east of Los Angeles, first went public following the release of a video showing treatment of animals at the plant. The video, taken surreptitiously by the Humane Society of the U.S., led to schools nationwide pulling beef supplied by the company from cafeterias.

In the video, a manager is shown using a paddle to hit a nonambulatory cow in the face and eye, in an attempt to get the the animal to its feet to be taken to slaughter. By law, cattle that cannot walk are banned from the human meat supply. Also last week, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture suspended inspections of Hallmark, which effectively closed the plant. Earlier this month, several California lawmakers called for an independant investigation into the National School Lunch Program, for which Hallmark was a top supplier.

San Bernardino County prosecutors last week filed felony charges of animal cruelty and illegal movement of nonambulatory animals against the manager, Daniel Ugarte Navarro, age 49. It was not immediately clear where the meat products are, but the USDA said that some Westland meat products were purchased for federal food and nutrition programs. The agency placed a Jan 30 hold on all Westland products in federal outlets, including the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Assistance Program on Indian Reservations.

The USDA recall list issued Sunday includes beef products with the Westland, King Meat Co., Regal and Hallmark Meat Packing Labels. Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection FSIS has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall.