Williamsburg Packing Company Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.5

HATS Category VIII, Stunning Effectiveness. At 0915 on 10/28/2021, I, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV/IIC, received a phone call while at another establishment from Food Inspector REDACTED and Owner REDACTED. At approximately 0900, it was discovered by the CO2 chamber operator that two pigs had not been effectively stunned and came out of the chamber with their eyes open and visibly breathing. Mr. REDACTED and FI REDACTED were then notified. As the pigs were still under a partial plane of anesthesia, they were moved to the livestock holding pen with assistance. The pigs were not in visible distress and fully recovered from anesthesia by approximately 0945. Upon my initial phone conversation with Mr. REDACTED, I notified him to investigate the underlying cause of the CO2 chamber malfunction before restarting slaughter and for FI REDACTED to ensure this occurred. During a second phone conversation with Mr. REDACTED and CSI REDACTED at 1019, Mr. REDACTED explained they had just got in a new tank of CO2 and it is possible that water condensation within the tank had caused an inadequate concentration of CO2 in the chamber even though the CO2 gauge had been reading at above required CO2 levels. He also stated that he is having the CO2 operator ensure all pigs are properly stunned before bringing them out of the chamber and that he would be taking a closer look at the tank and chamber this weekend. I notified him that I was satisfied with this response and they could resume normal slaughter operations. While this incident is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.5 (a) (1) and 313.5 (a) (3), this was a non-egregious stunning failure as there was no evidence that the two improperly stunned pigs experienced severe harm or injury. Plant personnel promptly and effectively identified and corrected this noncompliance.