The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service withdrew inspectors from Hanford, Calif.-based Central Valley Meat Co. because of unsanitary conditions at the facility. The company is a beef supplier to the National School Lunch Program.
"The plant's suspension will be lifted once we receive adequate assurances of corrective action," FSIS said in a statement.
FSIS suspended the plant for animal handling violations in August 2012 after receiving an undercover video depicting dairy cows being abused before slaughter. Fallout from the incident was swift as USDA, McDonald's Corp., and other clients suspended supplier agreements with the processor, although there was no evidence of food safety violations.
In September 2013, the company recalled 58,240 lbs. of ground beef that contained small pieces of plastic. No recall was issued with announcement of the plant closure.
