On February 22, 2008 members of Mercy For Animals, donning white "biohazard" jumpsuits and face protection masks, converge outside the Chicago Public School central office in response to the largest beef recall in U.S. history, which included nearly 50 million pounds of meat that was sent to school lunch programs.

Activists distributed emergency Vegetarian Starter Kits to school officials, encouraging them to protect animals from abuse and students from E. coli, salmonella, and mad cow disease by adding more vegetarian options to school lunch menus.