Wal-Mart's most famous anti-worker case came back a couple of decades ago. The meatcutters in one particular store actually got as far along in the organizing process as to vote to join a union. In response the company closed, not just that meat department but all meat departments at all their stores. All their meat cutting, grinding, processing, etc., is now done at a central location and the packaged product distributed.

That's for fresh meat of course. Much more of their meat products are sold frozen, and those are bought from, sigh, whoever will sell at the lowest prices. The big recall you've been hearing about involves beef from Topps Meat Co. of (soon to be "formerly of" since they're going out of business) Elizabeth NJ. Their products were sold under their own name and at a wide variety of stores besides Wal-Mart.

The other recall, which is just starting to get publicity, is of the same product, frozen hamburger patties, but sold under the name American Chef's Selection Angus Beef Patties. That one is sold pretty exclusively at Wal-Mart-owned Sam's Club, although not in the WM stores themselves.

American Chef is produced by a little mom-n-pop outfit called Cargill. And Topps? Read more…