Triad Halal Meats LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.2

On 6/1/2022 at approximately 11:30 am, while verifying compliance with HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability, the following noncompliance was observed in the establishments holding pens. The IIC observed that a cow that had been unloaded at approximately 8:45am, was in holding pen number two (pen furthest from the slaughter floor) without available water. No regulatory control action was taken due to a plant employee immediately providing the cow with water after being notified by IIC. Plant Owner, REDACTED was notified of the plants failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(e).

313.16(a)(3),313.16(a)(1)

On 3/8/2022 at approximately 10:00 am, while verifying compliance with HATS Category IX: Conscious Animals on the Rail, the following noncompliance was observed on the establishments slaughter floor. IIC observed establishment employees load a hog freely (not using any restraint) into the knock box. The establishment employees instructed that the slaughter floor be cleared as they were getting ready to render the animal unconscious. The IIC left the slaughter floor, stepping into the hallway leading to the processing room. The IIC noticed the plant employee taking an extended amount of time to stun the animal using the bolt action .22mag loaded with FMJ (full metal jacket) ammunition and decided to peak around the corner. The IIC observed the plant employee moving the animal into the alley way, into the staging area leading to the knock box, and closing the door behind him. The IIC heard the first shot from the .22mag, then observed the plant employee come on the slaughter floor and place the rifle on the ledge in the corner of the kill floor where it is normally stored. The IIC and plant owner returned to the slaughter floor and proceeded to the staging area. The employee then returned to the alley way to stick and bled the hog. While the employee was getting the hog in position to stick, the hog began to vocalize in a squealing manner. At this point the plant manager was located at the door of the staging area, while I was standing directly beside the knock box. As the hog began to squeal, the plant owner stopped the employee from attempting to stick the animal (did not make cut), took two steps backwards to the slaughter floor, retrieved the same .22mag bolt action that administered the first shot, chambered another round into the barrel of the .22mag, and delivered a second shot to the top of the forehead of the hog that silenced the squealing. The IIC observed the plant employee continue to stick and bled the hog after the plant owner had identified that the animal was unconscious. IIC also identified that the hog was unconscious by visually observing no corneal reflexes, nor rhythmic breathing. The plant employee stopped the kill. The IIC, took regulatory control action of the knock box by using U.S. Rejected Tag #B-45613576 and the contacted his supervisor. After contacting his supervisor, the IIC resumed postmortem duties of the hog while closely observing the head of the hog. The first shot on the head was dead center, approximately 1⁄2 inch above the eyes. The second shot was dead center in the top of the forehead, approximately 1⁄4 inch to the right Plant Owner, REDACTED was notified of the plants failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.16(a)(3) and 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1).

313.16(a)(1)

On 3/7/2022 at approximately 2:00 pm, while verifying compliance with HATS Category VIII: Stunning effectiveness, the following noncompliance was observed on the establishments slaughter floor. IIC observed establishment employees load a hog freely (not using any restraint) into the knock box. The establishment employees instructed that the slaughter floor be cleared as they were getting ready to render the animal unconscious. The IIC left the slaughter floor, stepping outside the inedible room. IIC heard the first shot of the .22mag bolt action that was being used (the establishment was using full metal jacket rounds), then IIC heard the hog vocalize in a squealing manner, then the establishment employee immediately chambered the next round into the barrel and delivered a second shot from the .22mag that silenced the squealing. As the IIC returned to the kill floor, he observed that the animal was unconscious by observing a floppy tongue and no rhythmic breathing. The establishment employees proceeded to stick and bleed the animal. The IIC then stopped the kill, placing U.S. Rejected tag #B-45613564 on the knock box and contacted his supervisor for further instruction. After receiving instruction from his supervisor, the IIC observed the head of the hog and saw 2 bullet holes approximately 1 1/4 inches apart. The IIC observed that both holes where perfectly center but one of the holes was directly on the mark for an optimal shot while the other shot was low, towards the nasal cavity. Plant Owner, REDACTED was notified of the plants failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1).