Putting Glass Walls on Arizona Slaughterhouses So We Can See Behind Closed Doors
JBS Tolleson, Inc.

Address: 651 South 91st Ave., Tolleson, AZ 85353
Establishment No.: 00267 M or M267

USDA Inspection Report: 7 April 2011

Code: 06D01
Violation: 310.18(a), 416.4(d)

Citation:

As a part of procedure 06D01, I observed the sanitary dressing procedures of the harvest of large intestine. Once separated from the other viscera, the harvested large intestine is rinsed , cut into specific lengths, placed in a vat of ice water to chill before pieces are bulk packaged in a plastic lined box. I observed as a company employee remove pieces of large intestine from the vat of ice water and place them on the work table in front of her. I continued to watch as the employee grasped the large intestine to remove the fat from the product. Upon closer observation, I noted that the fat being removed contained visible greenish brown, plant-like fibrous material consistent with fecal material. The trimmed product was placed in stacks which were covered with plastic and placed in a box as final packaged product. I did not observe the company employee wash her hands between handling the pieces of fecal contaminated product. There was no hot water or hand washing facilities in the immediate area. To further examine the process, I then removed 12 pieces of large intestine from the vat of ice water located prior to the employee mentioned above. I found that the fat on all but 2 of the pieces of intestine were contaminated with the same fibrous greenish brown plant-like material consistent with fecal material. I placed US Retain/Reject tag#B39036268 on all of the boxes of large intestine harvested since the beginning of the day's production. I notified ) and ), of my findings. The Company decided to halt the harvest of the large intestine product until an investigation could be performed to verify that the product was being appropriately harvested. Mr) was notified that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. The Company's HACCP plan for Offal and Variety Meats does not recognize any physical, biological or chemical hazards as likely to occur during the harvest of the large intestine. There is no written SOP that documents the procedure for the harvest, cleaning and packaging of the large Intestines. That the product was not clean and was handled in an insanitary manner which likely resulted in cross-contamination of the product represents regulatory non-compliance of 9 CFR 416.4(d) and 310.18(a). A review of the Non-Compliance Records for the past 90 days revealed no occurrence of a similar incident.

Regulation:

310.18(a) Carcasses, organs, and other parts shall be handled in a sanitary manner to prevent contamination with fecal material, urine, bile, hair, dirt, or foreign matter; however, if contamination occurs, it shall be promptly removed in a manner satisfactory to the inspector.

416.4(d) Product must be protected from adulteration during processing, handling, storage, loading, and unloading at and during transportation from official establishments.

Next Report: USDA Inspection Report: 16 May 2011
Previous Report: USDA Inspection Report: 1 April 2011
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