Yosemite Foods Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.1

On August 21, 2024, at approximately 7:23pm, while performing an odd hour’s inspection procedure, I, CSI, REDACTED observed the following deficiency. I observed the livestock unloading ramp with a metal sheet protruding a sharp edge partially detached from the siding wall approximately an inch and a half from the bottom section. As a result of the establishment failure to maintain the ramp in good repair, I immediately applied a U.S reject tag#B-46521380 to the ramp. Upon further inspection, I found multiple screw heads that were protruding and or loose on the bottom of several cross boards on the ramp’s interior floor. I swiftly contacted REDACTED (QC Technician) and alerted her of all the deficiencies and was notified of this forthcoming noncompliance. These protruding objects posed a hazard to the animals and could cause injury. There was no livestock unloading activities occurring during my finding. Mrs. REDACTED promptly contacted maintenance to repair the ramp. After visually verifying that the metal sheet was straighten out, some of the flooring screws were cut off and/or replaced with new ones, and others were screwed down enough to prevent any injuries to the animals’ feet. This brought the conditions back to compliance in my presence. Official regulatory control action was relinquished, and tag was retrieved at approximately 8:22pm by CSI, REDACTED Failure to maintain livestock pens in good repair, free from sharp or protruding objects which may cause injury or pain to the animals. As well as openings where the head, feet or legs of an animal may be injured is a noncompliance with Title 9 CFR 313.1(a).

313.1,313.2

On October 23, 2023, at approximately 10:05am, I CSI REDACTED was performing HATS Category II (Truck Unloading) task near the truck unloading elevated ramp area when I observed the following humane handling non-compliance: While market hogs were being unloaded from the top deck of the transport truck using the elevated ramp, I observed three (3) hogs coming out of the truck. Due to the weight of the livestock the ramp became loose creating a large opening where three hogs fell directly to the concrete ground onto their stomachs. The distance from the top deck to the ground was approximately 9 feet in height. After falling, all three hogs recovered their footing and were able to ambulate normally. I did not observe any visible signs of lameness, injuries nor did I hear any distressed vocalization coming from the three hogs. However, these three hogs showed signs of physical discomfort. The third hog that fell did not want to walk into the holding pen. I immediately took a regulatory control action and applied U.S Rejected tag #B-46521399 to the unloading ramp. I asked Mr. REDACTED (Back Harvest Supervisor) to call a QC employee and notified him that regulatory control action would remain in effect until the establishment provided corrective actions. Shortly after, I informed and showed Mr. REDACTED (QC/QA Supervisor) this finding and notified him of the forth coming humane handling noncompliance. I later learned that a fourth market hog which was held on the bottom deck also fell from the top deck when the other three market hogs fell. Upon further inspection of the ramp, IPP and SPHV, Dr. REDACTED noticed that the floor anchored brackets attached to the ramp, were broken off and the pin was out of the bracket guided rail which provides stability for unloading of livestock to the elevated ramp. At approximately 12:36pm, after verifying that the establishment repaired the elevated ramp, official regulatory control action was relinquished, and U.S. Retained tag #B-46521399 was removed by CSI, REDACTED. The elevated ramp was operable without any issues and the remaining hogs in the truck were unloaded humanely with minimal stress. The above is not in compliance with 9 CFR 313.1 and 313.2.