Agriculture system is broken

Re “Huge beef recall issued,” Feb. 18

The credibility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Steve Mendell, president of Hallmark Meat Packing and its distributor, Westland, is zero. Either they were unaware that sick animals were abused and fed to an unsuspecting public, or they turned a blind eye in the name of greed. Either way, they need to be held responsible. But they are merely a reflection of an agricultural system gone bad. Old McDonald had a farm, but he was put out of business by large factory farming operations and a complicit USDA that put profit above all else. There is a more sustainable, humane way to farm, and many of us are choosing with our dollars to support organic foods locally grown by small family farms.

James Montgomery

Redondo Beach

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Re “An animal lover in the lion’s den,” Feb. 19

I read about the undercover Humane Society investigator who exposed the truth about the industry at the Hallmark/Westland meat processing plant. All I could think about was what a courageous soul he is. I am thankful there are people like him who are willing to face the cruelty we force onto weaker creatures. I also think the real criminals are the company heads, not the individual workers. Although their treatment of the animals was less than noble and horrific, they were just doing what they were told. I want to see the presidents of such companies indicted. They are the ones who have allowed the workers to act in such a way. They are the ones who should be criminally charged.

Kristina Cahill

Long Beach