Masami Foods, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.16(a)(1),313.16(b)(1)(i)

On 26March2022 at approximately 0845hours, a kill floor employee notified me, REDACTED SPHV, that there was a cow loose on the kill floor. The FSIS Food Inspector and I did not enter the kill floor until a kill floor employee notified us that the cow was unconscious. The following is an account of the events from a kill floor employee: One cow entered the knockbox, broke the safety latch on door to the kill floor, and entered the kill floor. Barn and Environmental Supervisor REDACTED retrieved a .22 caliber rifle and shot at the cow twice. He was unsure if he hit her either time. A kill floor employee, REDACTED, applied a captive bolt to the back of the head of the animal, rendering it unconscious. A security knock was applied to the front of the skull by Kill Floor Stunner REDACTED, who then pithed the brain through the captive bolt entry. Kill Floor Supervisor REDACTED then exsanguinated the animal via a cut through the jugular vein. The shots could be heard from our office - the first two shots were few minutes apart. The third shot was about a minute later, followed by a fourth shot within approximately half a minute. I found the downed cow near the second leg station and confirmed the cow was unconscious. I tagged the knockbox with US Reject Tag B32115557. I allowed the kill floor employees to shackle and hoist the cow and skin the head and neck. Upon examination of the skull, I noted three stunning entries. There was one smooth round hole in the back of the skull on midline, one smooth round hole in the middle of the forehead, and one jagged oblong hole in the forehead approximately 2 inches to the left of midline. This situation represents noncompliance with 9CFR313.15(b)(1)(iii), 313.16(a)(1), and 313.16(b)(1)(i). I notified Mr. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance record. The broken safety latch was welded back in its appropriate location, and functionality was ensured by Production Manager REDACTED. I removed US Retain Tag B3211557 from the knockbox and allowed for continuation of slaughter.