The U.S. Department of Agriculture is playing down the public health risk associated with the biggest beef recall in U.S. history, but there isn't much reason to feel comforted by its pullback of 143 million pounds of meat from a troubled California meat-packing company.

A lot of the meat has been consumed, probably including by unsuspecting schoolchildren, and the plant's faulty practices were brought to light by an advocacy group, once again underscoring the fact that the nation's food inspection system is inadequate and often ineffective.

USDA officials admit that veterinarians with its Food Safety and Inspection Service were not consistently contacted by the plant, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. near Los Angeles, when cattle were unable to walk during an inspection. These so-called downer cows are prohibited from being slaughtered and included in the U.S. food supply without a closer inspection by a vet. That's because they might be sick with mad cow disease or be more susceptible to E. coli, salmonella or some other illness because of their living conditions. Although Westland insists that it operates at the highest standards, the undercover videotape by an investigator for the Humane Society of the U.S. shows horrific abuses by plant workers, including electric shocks, intensive water sprays and the use of forklifts to force animals on their feet, presumably so they could be approved for slaughter. Agriculture officials admit that the cattle "did not receive complete and proper inspection." Some workers are facing state animal cruelty charges, and the USDA's inspector general is investigating possible federal charges.

But the incident once again highlights the need for a more comprehensive food inspection system, including mandatory tracking to ensure that food is properly handled from the plant to the market.

It's scary enough that Westland has been a major supplier of beef for the nation's school lunch and food assistance programs. Westland products from the offending plant designated for those programs have been properly put on hold and the company's contracts suspended. Some of the company's precooked beef ended up in nine Maryland school districts, including Baltimore.

But it's equally scary that the videotaping at Westland was random, raising concerns that these are not isolated abuses. The massive recall may be a proper retaliatory move, but it still comes after the fact. Neither the USDA nor the public should feel assured that our food is as safe as it should be.