Paradise Locker Meats: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.1

HATS Category IV: Antemortem Inspection On 7/03/24, at approximately at 0925 hours, SPHV REDACTED was performing a Humane Handling Assessment at Paradise Locker Meats, EST. M31865, when the following noncompliance was observed. SPHV REDACTED observed an angus steer’s head stuck between two steel bars of the pen 3 gate. The animal initially was unable to free its head, but once the establishment employee got on the other side of the gate to try dislodging its head, the cattle turned its head and was able to free itself with no injuries. The gate bars were constructed in such a way that the animal was able to become entrapped, which in the opinion of the inspector, poses an injury risk to cattle. Therefore, the establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.1(a). REDACTED (Foods Safety Coordinator) was verbally informed of the forthcoming noncompliance. The pens with gates of this construction were rejected for use by cattle with tags B31932797, B23586047, and B23586048. This noncompliance is not associated with any recent noncompliance.

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

On December 15, 2023, at approximately 13:25 hours, I, CSI REDACTED notified Plant Manager REDACTED of Paradise Locker Meats of my decision to take regulatory action in the stunning area by tagging the knock box with tag # B28 649729 for improper stunning resulting in inhumane handling. FI REDACTED observed establishment employee attempt to stun a beef with a captive bolt, but the first shot was ineffective, and the beef was observed still standing after the stun. A second shot was immediately attempted but the animal moved its head and the establishment employee fired without contacting the animal. The captive bolt was reloaded, and the third shot rendered the animal unconscious. In between the second and third the shot was when the FI notified me of the failed stunning attempts, and I observed the final stunning which rendered the animal unconscious. I verbally notified Mr. REDACTED that no further stunning could take place and U.S. Reject Tag #B28 649279 was applied to the stunning area. Mr. REDACTED was also notified that noncompliance would be documented and the information above would be communicated through supervisory channels to the Springdale District Office. For the rest of the animals that needed to be slaughtered for this day, the establishment was going to take it slower to allow the animals to calm down in the knock box and to make sure they were getting the correct shot. The tag #B28 649729 was removed at approximately 14:20 hours and slaughter continued. The establishment failed to meet the requirements of 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1) and (3).