State's largest districts received suspect beef

All three of Minnesota's largest school districts said they have received food that includes beef from a suspect California meatpacker.

Anoka-Hennepin schools and lunchrooms in Minneapolis are all shifting away from meat sauces, burgers and meat loaf that came from cows processed in Chino, Calif.

USDA records indicate nearly a quarter million pounds of beef from the Westland Hallmark Co. went to schools and distributors in Minnesota. One-third of that went to St. Paul, where more than 20,000 pounds of beef have been set aside.

Rochester received about 800 pounds of the beef that officials there have set aside.

In Minneapolis, school nutrition director Rosemary Dederichs said her staff has stopped serving beef altogether, at least through this week. The district is substituting cheese, chicken and turkey in school meals.

The supplier has been accused of processing sick and injured cows, thought to be at higher risk of disease.

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