Page:Foods and their adulteration; origin, manufacture, and composition of food products; description of common adulterations, food standards, and national food laws and regulations (IA foodstheiradulte02wile).pdf/585

 mittee on Food Standards in Circular No. 10, Secretary's Office, United States Department of Agriculture.

An ante-mortem examination and inspection shall be made of all cattle, sheep, swine, and goats about to be slaughtered before they shall be allowed to enter an establishment at which inspection is maintained. Said examination and inspection shall be made in the pens, alleys, or chutes of the establishment at which the animals are about to be slaughtered. The proprietors of the establishments at which the said ante-mortem inspection is conducted shall provide satisfactory facilities for conducting said inspection and for separating and holding apart from healthy animals those showing symptoms of disease.

All animals showing symptoms or suspected of being affected with any disease or condition which, under these regulations, would probably cause their condemnation when slaughtered, shall be marked by affixing to the ear or tail a metal tag as provided in Regulation 20.

All such animals, except as hereinafter provided, shall be slaughtered separately, either before regular slaughter has commenced or at the close of the regular slaughter, and shall be duly identified by a representative of the establishment to the inspector on duty on the killing floor before the skins are removed or the carcasses opened for evisceration.

Animals which have been tagged for pregnancy and which have not been exposed to any infectious or contagious disease are not required to be slaughtered, but before any such animal is removed from the establishment the tag shall be detached by a Department employee and returned with his report to the inspector in charge.

(a) If any pathological condition is suspected in which the question of temperature is important, such as Texas fever, anthrax, pneumonia, blackleg, or septicemia, the exact temperature should be taken. Due consideration, however, must be given to the fact that extremely high temperatures may be found in otherwise normal hogs when subjected to exercise or excitement, and a similar condition may obtain to a less degree among other classes of animals. Animals commonly termed "downers," or crippled animals, shall be tagged, as provided for in Regulation 20, in the abattoir pens for the purpose of identification at the time of slaughter, and shall be passed upon in accordance with these regulations.

The inspector or his assistants shall, at the time of slaughter, make a careful inspection of all animals slaughtered. The head, tail, thymus gland, bladder, caul, and the entire viscera, and all parts and blood used in the preparation of meat food products shall be retained in such manner as to preserve their identity until after the post-mortem examination has been completed, in order that they may be identified in case of condemnation of the carcass. Suitable racks or metal receptacles shall be provided for retaining such parts.

Carcasses and parts thereof found to be sound, healthful, wholesome, and fit for human food shall be passed and marked as provided in these regulations.

Should any lesion of disease or other condition that would probably render the meat or any organ unfit for food purposes be found on post-mortem examination, such meat