Premium California Foods: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1230 hours while verifying HATS Category 8, Stunning Effectiveness, I, Dr. REDACTED, District Veterinary Medical Officer (DVMO) observed the following: Standing approximately 5 to 10 feet from the knock box, I observed an establishment employee walk a beef cow into the knock box. Once the cow was in the chute and the head restraint was in place, Quality Control (QC) Manager, Mr. REDACTED stunned the cow with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device. Immediately following the first stun attempt, I noted that it was an ineffective stun as the cow remained standing, eye tracking and moving its head, and rhythmically breathing. Within approximately 10 to 15 seconds, Mr. REDACTED reloaded the same HHCB and administered a second stun attempt. Immediately following the second stun attempt, I noted that it was also an ineffective stun as the animal remained standing, eye tracking and moving its head, rhythmically breathing, and was now vocalizing. Mr. REDACTED reloaded the same HHCB and applied a third stun attempt. I confirmed that the third stun rendered the animal unconscious as there were no signs of vocalizing, eye tracking, or breathing and the cow was no longer standing. In accordance with 9 CFR 313.50(c), IPP took regulatory control action by applying USDA Reject Tag # B46687306 to the entrance of the knock box and informed Plant Management of the forthcoming noncompliance. The Alameda District Office was notified via Supervisory channels. IPP retained the beef head at the USDA postmortem inspection station for further evaluation by applying U.S. Retained Tag # B46687305, and at approximately 1315 hours, the DVMO observed the skinned beef head with 3 holes in total. Two of the holes were close together, approximately 1 inch above the eyes into the frontal sinus, and the third hole was at the appropriate location to render the animal unconscious. Premium conducts stunning of animals at a low frequency, and as Mr. REDACTED is not the regular stun employee, he does not routinely perform stunning on cattle. When communicating with Mr. REDACTED, he informed IPP that he has only conducted stunning activities three times previously. Additionally, you, Mr. REDACTED, President, informed IPP that Mr. REDACTED is Premium’s fourth back-up stunner and that the last time he stunned animals was on April 1, 2025. This is an egregious act of inhumane handling of animals in connection with slaughter and is in violation in accordance with Title 9 CFR 313.15(a) which states in complete, “The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, throw, cast or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.”