The video showed these ailing cows getting kicked, rammed with a forklift, and having water shot up their noses as workers tried to force them to their feet for slaughter.

With the American public outraged, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of beef.

Federal officials called it the largest beef recall in U.S. history, far surpassing the previous record set in 1999 when 35 million pounds of beef were pulled off the market.

Upon learning oft the recall, some legislators criticized the USDA. They say it's clear the USDA system failed, and it allowed this company to engage in long-term inhumane practices.

The recall was conducted largely due to looming fears that "downed cattle" or cattle too sick to walk may pose a higher risk of contamination from mad cow disease that has plagued beef cattle herds in Europe and Canada. The weakened immune systems of sick cattle which often lay in dirty places increase their risk of infection.

It is unclear how much of the recalled meat has already been consumed, but government officials said most of it has already been eaten as around 37 million pounds of the affected meat had been sent to school lunch programs and fast-food chains around the country.

According to the Associated Press some of the fast-food chains as well as more than 100 schools said they would stop using beef from the company shown in the Humane Society video.

No illnesses have yet been linked to the recalled meat and officials said the health threat was likely to be small.

Arirang News