CRIMES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES - gpvec

Crimes Without ConsequenCes
A number of NRs were found to be missing from the documents released for this study
as well. 100 An appeal was filed with the FSIS for the missing documents, and in response,
the agency produced eight additional NRs, bringing the total reviewed for this report to
432. 101
Notes
Table 11. Federal Violations by Type
October 1, 2002 to March 31, 2004
Type Number Percent
Failure to provide water in pen 123 24.5
Pens or grounds in disrepair 80 16.0
Conscious animal on bleed rail 77 15.4
Ineffective stunning 65 13.0
Improper handling of disabled animal 51 10.2
Slippery surfaces/falling 27 5.4
Inadequate space in pen for lying 25 5.0
Excessive force used to drive animals 24 4.8
Other a 20 4.0
Failure to provide food in pens 9 1.8
Total 501 ---
a Includes improper identification of suspect pen, failure to meet requirements of religious slaughter.
100 Records were not produced for some slaughter plants that received NOIES or Suspensions of Inspection
during the time period. Certain NRs that were released make reference to additional NRs during the period that
were missing from the documents supplied. In addition, no NR was released for arguably the worst incident of
humane handling at U.S. slaughter plants during the time in question. In that incident, hot weather killed about
1,100 hogs waiting to be unloaded from trucks at the Excel plant in Beardstown, IL. The suspension of this
plant for inhumane handling was reported by the online edition of Pork Magazine on September 2, 2003.
101 The agency explained that some records were not available due to records being kept on file for only two
years and because some of the slaughterhouses were no longer in business. Communication from Carol Blake,
USDA-FSIS, deputy director, executive correspondence and issues management staff, February 13, 2007.
40