Almost 60,000 pounds of ground beef produced in California and bound for the National School Lunch Program have been recalled because it contains pieces of plastic. And we're not talking Happy Meal toys.

According to Food Safety News, the federal government's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a recall for 58,000 pounds of ground beef from Hanford, Calif.'s Central Valley Meat Co. this week. The meat was distributed to four states across the U.S. with intentions of serving it to children who use the National School Lunch Program (that would be poor kids).

The recall was issued after consumer complaints that the meat contained “foreign materials.” The hamburger was shipped to Arkansas, California, Montana and Texas. The recall is for two case codes of “Fine Ground Beef,” sold in 40-lb. cases containing 10-lb. chubs with the establishment number “Est. 6063A” and case codes 6063A3091A and 6063A3091B.

No reports of illness or injuries in connection to consuming the small plastic particles have been reported. For more information, customers can contact Brian Coelho, the general manager of Central Valley, by calling 559- 583-9624, or the USDA Meat and Poultry hotline at 888-674-6854.

See also: our Food Recall archives

In case Central Valley Meat Co. rings a bell, it is the same company that was outed in incredibly disturbing videos that were released in 2012 of cows being abused prior to slaughter. The clips, taken by undercover animal rights advocates, showed downed cows being hit with electric prods, which, besides the outright cruelty, breaks a regulation that bans sick animals from being used for the nation's meat supply. After those images surfaced, the USDA shut down the plant and barred the meat processor from supplying meat to the National School Lunch Program. The company was later allowed to reopen after agreeing to take corrective actions.

Glad to know the company cleaned up their act. Way to look out for the kids, feds!

Just let them have their Hot Cheetos. They're probably safer.

See also: School Districts Bailing On More Healthful Lunch Program

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