Butterball, LLC: Non-Compliance to Poultry Good Commercial Practices in 2021 (USDA)

381.65(b)

On August 26, 2021, at approximately 1036 hours, while walking through the pinning room, CSI REDACTED, noted that there were four red birds on the table, that appeared to be cadavers. There were two leads in the area as she walked to the kill room, she could hear one of the leads was trying to get the backup killers attention by yelling at him and then walking to his station. CSI REDACTED asked the other leads what was going on and why there were so many cadavers coming out. The lead replied that she was going to get her a supervisor. The lead that went and talked to the backup killer came to CSI REDACTED while she was waiting for a supervisor and stated that it was too hot. CSI REDACTED was staying by the pinning area, waiting for a supervisor, and counted at least six more red birds coming out of the scalder. The pinning employee was getting the birds out of the shackles and throwing them in the drain. Two of those birds ended up on the drain cover. CSI REDACTED went and looked at the birds on the drain cover and noted that there was no cut on their necks. At no time during this incident was the kill line stopped by the plant. When Superintendent REDACTED arrived, CSI REDACTED informed him that there were too many cadavers coming out of the scalder. CSI REDACTED asked him why the kill machine was not killing these birds and he informed her that the size of the birds varies and that is why they have a backup killer. CSI REDACTED informed Mr. REDACTED that she was going to report the incident to her supervisor and that an MOI might be written. I, SCSI REDACTED, spoke with CSI REDACTED about the incident and she witnessed at least 10 cadavers while performing her Good Commercial Practice Task. CSI REDACTED described the birds to me as having a deep red coloration to their skin indicating they were still breathing while entering the scald tanks and had incomplete exsanguination. These carcasses are cadavers as they died from a cause other than slaughter. CSI REDACTED noticed 2 of the birds did not have any cuts on the neck. I spoke with Mr. REDACTED to ensure that this is an isolated incident. The kill machine was missing these birds due to the size variation. I spoke with QA Manager REDACTED and Operations Manager REDACTED to confirm this establishment does have a program for cadavers and they also perform GCP checks every REDACTED to ensure they do not get over REDACTED% per REDACTED birds passing through the kill machine without proper cuts. According to my calculations this would be 6 cadavers. If during any check performed, they get over 2 % then the establishment executes corrective actions. During the establishment weekly meeting I informed Operations Manager REDACTED and QA Manager REDACTED that a non-compliance would be forthcoming. The establishment’s failure to handle the birds in accordance with Good Commercial Practices violated 9 CFR 381.65(b).