Sunnyside Meats, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Sunnyside Meats, Inc. slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.15(a)(1)
HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 04/11/23 I, the SPHV assigned to Est. 27236 Sunnyside Meats, Inc., observed the following noncompliance. I was entering the slaughter floor and heard a steer vocalizing and then the sound of a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device discharge. I opened the door while the animal continued to vocalize. I observed bleeding from the animal’s forehead. The stun operator was loading a HHCB device and preparing to apply a second stun attempt. At the commencement of the second stun the animal was rendered unconscious. U.S. Reject tag B35873862 was applied to the stun box. I verbally notified the slaughter floor employees to halt further stunning until I had time to discuss the issue with the Denver District Veterinary Medical Specialist. I also verbally notified the Sunnyside management team of the incident. Two penetrating stun holes were observed in the dressed head. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. This establishment has not implemented a robust systematic approach to humane handling of livestock. There have been no noncompliance records issued within the past 90 days for the same root cause.
313.15(a)(1)
While performing routine slaughter duties on December 5, 2022, at M27236, at approximately, 12:15 pm MST, I, CSI on duty, observed the following noncompliance. The stun operator applied a first stun attempt to a lamb with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device. I observed the lamb to remain standing but otherwise did not react or vocalize. The stun operator immediately reloaded the HHCB device and applied a second stun attempt. I observed the animal collapse to the ground as it was effectively rendered insensible. The stun operator touched the eyelash on the right side, and I observed no reaction to the stimulus. I did not place a retain tag but verbally took a regulatory control action by informing the senior floor worker that we would stop slaughter until I spoke to my supervisor about the incident. The District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS) was contacted through supervisory channels. I informed the Food Safety Manager after I took regulatory control and slaughter stopped. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I observed two penetrating conjoined holes from the HHCB device. One hole was towards the nose and seemed to be directed downwards along the nose. A second hole directly penetrated the brain. There have been no noncompliance records issued in the past 90 days for the same root cause.
313.1,313.2
On Thursday October 6, 2022 at approximately 11:00 a.m. during my post mortem inspections at Sunnyside Meats est 27236, I overheard a cow vocalizing from outside the stun pen. I went out to check on the animal and observed a large cow with his head stuck in the bottom of a gate in the chute. The cow could not move or remove his head from the gate. I witnessed plant employee REDACTED, using the electric prod on the animal’s neck and head. REDACTED shocked the cow twice in my presence and the cow began vocalizing loudly but unable to move. I informed REDACTED it is unacceptable to shock the animal in the neck or head. I asked him to stop using the prod and informed him the animal has been in distress for approximately 5 minutes and needs to be stunned in the chute to prevent further distress. At this time, the animal had foam coming from the mouth. REDACTED raised his voice and informed me he is not doing that. He retrieved an electric saw and insisted on cutting the gate to release the cow. I then went to the office to summon a plant manager to the floor to take control of the situation. Plant manager, REDACTED took immediate action to resolve the issue. I notified my immediate supervisor, Dr. REDACTED, of the issue. These observations are non-compliant with 9 CFR 313.1(a), 313.2(a) and 313.2(b). 313.1(a) Livestock pens, driveways and ramps shall be maintained and in good repair. They shall be free from sharp or protruding objects which may cause pain in the opinion of the inspector. Loose boards, splintered or broken planking, and unnecessary openings where the head, feet, or legs of an animal may be injured shall be repaired. 313.2(a) Driving of livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum amount of excitement. 313.2(b) Electric prods, canvas slappers, or other implements employed to drive animals shall be used as little as possible in order to minimize excitement and injury. Any use of such implements which, in the opinion of the inspector, is excessive, is prohibited. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days
