The Hillshire Brands Company: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 02/16/2023 at approximately 1127 hours while performing a HAT category VIII-Stunning Effectiveness verification task I, SPHV REDACTED, observed the following events. Specifically, while observing the stunning of a non-ambulatory hog (in lateral recumbency) in livestock holding pen 20, I observed that Mr. REDACTED initial stun attempt with a handheld captive bolt device failed to render the hog insensible, as evidenced by the animal vocalizing loudly, attempting to lift its head, and remaining alert. Mr. REDACTED immediately recognized the failure, retrieved the pre-loaded backup HHCB device, and delivered an immediate and effective corrective action stun, rendering the animal insensible, and it remained so thereafter. Immediate verbal regulatory control was taken, and Mr. REDACTED, Barn Supervisor, and Mr. REDACTED, Livestock Procurement Manager, were notified of the noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(a)(3), and of the regulatory control action. Mr. REDACTED, QA Manager, was also immediately notified via telephone of the noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(a)(3), and of the regulatory control action. Regulatory control (U.S. Reject Tag No. B-45 400547) over the establishment’s stunning operation (stun box) remains in effect pending establishment corrective actions.

313.15(a)(1),313.15(a)(3)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 02/01/2023 at approximately 0555 hours while performing a HATS category VIII-Stunning Effectiveness verification task I, SPHV REDACTED, observed the following events. Specifically, while observing the stunning of a hog in the alleyway immediately adjacent to livestock holding pen 3, I observed that Mr. REDACTED initial stun attempt with a handheld captive bolt device failed to render the hog insensible, evidenced by the animal vocalizing, and remaining standing and alert. At the time of the initial stun attempt, I observed that the hog raised its head immediately prior to the stun attempt resulting in the initial stun attempt striking the hog’s head at the forehead/right ear junction. Mr. REDACTED immediately recognized the failure, retrieved the pre-loaded backup HHCB device, and delivered an immediate and effective corrective action stun, rendering the animal insensible, and it remained so thereafter. Immediate verbal regulatory control was taken and Mr. REDACTED, 2nd shift Barn Lead, was notified of the noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(a)(3), and of the regulatory control action. Mr. REDACTED, the establishment’s Procurement Manager, was also immediately notified via telephone of the noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(a)(3), and of the regulatory control action. Regulatory control was subsequently relinquished upon Mr. REDACTED proffered corrective actions.

313.15(a)(1),313.15(a)(3)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 01/07/2023 at approximately 1255 hours while performing a HAT category VIII-Stunning Effectiveness verification task I, SPHV REDACTED, observed the following events. Specifically, while observing the stunning of a hog in the holding area just outside the single file chutes leading to the stunning box, I observed that Mr. REDACTED initial stun attempt with a handheld captive bolt device failed to render the hog insensible, evidenced by the animal remained standing, alert, and vocalized loudly and continuously. I also observed a black ringed defect on the hog’s head post the initial stunning blow. Mr. REDACTED recognized the failure, retrieved the pre-loaded backup HHCB device, and delivered an immediate and effective corrective action stun, rendering the animal insensible, and it remained so thereafter. Immediate verbal regulatory control was taken and Mr. REDACTED, Operations Manager, was notified of the noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(a)(3), and of the regulatory control action. Regulatory control was subsequently relinquished upon Mr. REDACTED proffered corrective actions.

313.2

HATS Category III (Water and Feed Availability) On 10/03/2022 at approximately 1400 hours while taking a FSIS directed sample to the guard shack, I, CSI REDACTED observed a tractor trailer truck carrying livestock coming from the establishment’s shipping and receiving area, as opposed to the barn and livestock staging area on the other side of the facility where water access is available. Upon further investigation, I observed two additional tractor trailer trucks containing livestock parked in this same area, interspersed with, and obscured by numerous box trailers utilized for shipping and receiving. I also observed at this time that none of the livestock on the trailers had access to water. Upon further inquiry, and upon my review of the scale tickets for those trucks in the guard shack, I noted that the three tractor trailer trucks had been on site in the shipping and receiving area for hours (the truck that arrived at 1120 hours had 98 head, 1205 hours had 113 head, and 1242 hours had 89 head of livestock). These trailers carrying livestock arrived onto the regulated premises, and by the establishment electing to hold these animals on the trailers rather than unloading them, these trailers become de facto holding pens, and the animals must have access to water. Mr. REDACTED, Barn Supervisor, was immediately notified of my observations and of the non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e). Mr. REDACTED immediately had the remaining livestock trailers moved over to livestock staging area where the animals were given access to water under my direct supervision. The first of the three trucks reached the livestock unloading dock at approximately 1415 hours, whereby animals were unloaded into actual livestock holding pens, thus giving access to water.