There are lots of shady ways to cut operational costs, but this California slaughterhouse exec really had his eyes on the almighty dollar.Steve Mendell, president and CEO of the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company of Chino, CA, lied under oath and later admitted his company introduced sick cows into its hamburger supply.

Unfortunately, it took an undercover video filmed by a member of the Humane Society of the United States to get the exec to come around. The gruesome footage displays, amongst other atrocities, employees using hoses, electric prods, forklifts and physical abuse to move “downer” cattle who were too sick to walk to the slaughter zone.

After being subpoenaed, Mendell first admitted he was aware of the treatment of the sick animals, but that there were no safety issues. He claimed “it was inhumane treatment, for sure,” but that the sick cattle weren’t being slaughtered for food. Since they were deathly ill, the company was doing its part to end the animals’ suffering and keep them out of the food supply.

Then why were the sick animals were dragged into the same slaughter zone as the healthy, food-bound cattle?

Mendell didn’t have an answer for that one. He caught a glimpse of the video and retracted his previous “statement.”

Prosecutors then asked Mendell if he could conclude that any cows dragged into the slaughter area were destined for the food supply.

His response: “That would be logical.”

So much for plausible deniability. Mendell did make one last-ditch effort to save the company - or at least his job. He claimed that the animal parts most likely to carry disease were routinely removed, meaning there is “less than a minute chance of that product being contaminated.”

The case is still under investigation, but we’re fairly certain Mr. Mendell has “less than a minute chance” of remaining the company’s president and CEO once everything is settled.

Tags: ethics, humane, mad cow disease