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A California slaughterhouse is the recipient of the largest beef recall in U.S. history, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture recalling 143 million pounds of frozen beef. The slaughterhouse is also being investigated for abuse to animals.

Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. is the subject of the recall and investigation, with products dated back to February 1, 2006 being part of the recall. Some of the meat is sold to school lunch programs.

To get a grasp on how big this recall is, the closest recall in pounds of meat in the U.S. was the 35 million pounds recalled in 1999. 

According to Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, the recall was precipitated by evidence the company hasn't communicated with their veterinarian when their cattle became non-ambulatory, which violates health regulations.

"Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall," Schafer said in a statement.

What non-ambulatory cattle are, are cattle that are down and basically sit in their feces, while also being considered a high risk for E. coli, mad cow disease and salmonella because of their weak immune systems.

Officials say an undercover video also reveals non-ambulatory animals being abused through kicking, being pushed with forklifts, shocking and forcing water down the throats of the cattle. Operations have been suspended at Westland-Hallmark at this time.

Along with the school lunch programs, another that has used the recalled beef fast-food chain In-N-Out. Jack-In-the-Box says they won't be buying any meat from the slaugherhouse, and McDonalds and Burger King say they don't buy from them. Approximately 150 school districts are no longer using ground beef from the company.

The USDA says they'll contact distributors, with much of the meat determined to already been eaten. They add that there's no evidence of bad meat or a health hazard, but the procautionary recall had to be taken because of the uncertainty.

"We don't know how much product is out there right now. We don't think there is a health hazard, but we do have to take this action," said Dr. Dick Raymond, USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety.

The USDA added that the reason the health risk was low is because the recall is based on violation of inspection rules, not because there's proof of contaminated beef.

A number of charges were filed against a pen manager for the company, with five being felony counts for cruelty to animals, and three misdemeanors. Another employee was charged with three misdemeanors for the illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal.