Yaman Halal Meats Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.1,313.2

Noncompliance Humane Handling: HATS Category IV – Ante-mortem Inspection 9 CFR 313.2(e) and 313.1(a) On Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 at 1130 hour during inspection I, CSI REDACTED, observed that goats in the holding area did not have access to water and feed, violating humane handling requirements. The owner, REDACTED, and manager, REDACTED, were notified of the non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.2 (e) which requires water be accessible to livestock in all holding pens, and that animals held longer than 24 hours have access to feed. The fencing around the antemortem area of the beef, lamb, sheep, and goat holding area had sharp, exposed edges, posing a risk of injury to animals. I conducted a walkthrough with the owner, REDACTED, and the plant manager, REDACTED, and identified several areas of concern related to sharp edges in livestock holding pens and driveways. In the goat holding pen, I pointed out two specific locations with sharp-edged fencing. One at the entrance of the pen and another at the far corner. Additionally, in the ante-mortem inspection pen, two areas were highlighted, the entrance and right corner, and the far end of the pen where the wood-framed chain-link door is bent outward, exposing sharp metal wire ends that could pose a risk to animals attempting to push their heads or limbs through the fence. In the small, covered isolation holding pen, the bottom corner of a sheet metal wall has separated from the wooden frame, exposing jagged and rusted edges. Furthermore, in the lairage area for beef driveways, sections of fencing also have exposed sharp edges. Establishment committed to repairing the fence on Sunday 09/07/25. The owner, REDACTED, and the plant manager, REDACTED, were informed of these non-compliances with 9 CFR 313.1(a), which states that livestock pens, driveways, and ramps must be maintained in good repair and must be free from sharp or protruding objects that, in the opinion of the inspector, may cause injury or pain to the animals. There have been no recent similar noncompliances in the last 90 days and the plant does not have an active robust systematic approach program.

313.2

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 1030 hours, I, CSI REDACTED, received the pen card for antemortem on 80 lambs. During the subsequent ante-mortem inspection, I observed, inappropriate handling by owner REDACTED and two team members, who were dragging the animals by their two Back legs while segregating animals from the large group. I promptly notified REDACTED, the HACCP coordinator (who was present with me during the observations) of this non-compliance issue related to humane handling. The establishment failed to comply with 9CFR 313.2(a). Furthermore, the establishment has no robust systematic approach to its Humane handling procedure.

313.2

On 03/13/25 at 09:35 am, I, CSI REDACTED performed antemortem inspection on 70 lambs which were documented on the Pen card provided by REDACTED HACCP Coordinator. At 1400 hours, I observed that the establishment slaughtered 70 carcasses, however team members continued to slaughter animals. I informed HACCP coordinator REDACTED and owner REDACTED that the establishment had completed slaughter of the 70 lambs presented on the pen card. I then counted 78 carcasses and immediately stopped production. I notified my supervisor, Dr. REDACTED, and tagged the 8 lamb carcasses that were slaughtered without ante-mortem inspection with tags B45197944, B45197946, B45197943, B4519794, B45197937, B45197936, B45197945, and B45197942. These tagged carcasses were condemned by SPHV Dr. REDACTED for having been slaughtered without receiving ante-mortem inspection. HACCP Coordinator REDACTED and Owner REDACTED were notified that a Humane Handling noncompliance would be documented for failure to present animals for antemortem inspection prior to slaughter. The requirements of 9CFR 309.1(a)and (b) were not met.