Selected USDA Records Concerning Excel Corp.'s Fort Morgan, Colo., Meat Processing Plant. The documents are in PDF file format. (Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Cattle await slaughter in the stockyard of Excel Corp.'s sprawling plant in Fort Morgan, Colo. This facility slaughters more than 4,000 cows a day to supply customers ranging from grocery stores to restaurant chains. (Steve Groer--For The Washington Post)

• USDA Enforcement Operations Letter, Sept. 28, 1999. "... a suspension of inspection is warranted at this time."

• USDA Inspection Report, Oct. 27, 1999. "The folowing defects which include identifiable fecal deficiencies were observed..."

• USDA Inspection Report, Nov. 29, 1999. "... I observe an employee in bagging area picking up approximately 15 pieces of flank steak off of the floor and putting them on the return belt..."

• USDA Enforcement Operations Letter, May 23, 2000. "Recent repetitive fecal findings on product produced by your firm..."

• USDA Enforcement Operations Letter, June 1, 2000. "... we still have some concerns..."

• USDA Enforcement Operations Letter, June 14, 2000. "... this office has decided not to reinstate the suspension."

• Wisconsin Food Safety and Inspection Service Letter, September 27, 2000. "Kitchen practices in both establishments suggest the possibility of cross contamination from restaurant-based beef grinding operations co-located in the salad bar preparation area."

• Excel Corporation Response to Reporters, Feb. 27, 2001. "Excel is committed to providing safe food for people."

• USDA Response to Reporters, March 19, 2001. "Clearly, every step in the farm to table continuum is important in preventing foodborne illness."