381.91—Contamination.
(a)
Carcasses of poultry contaminated by volatile oils, paints, poisons, gases, scald vat water in the air sac system, or other substances which render the carcasses adulterated shall be condemned. Any organ or other part of a carcass which has been accidentally multilated in the course of processing shall be condemned, and if the whole carcass is affected, the whole carcass shall be condemned.
(b)
(1)
Any carcass of poultry accidentally contaminated during slaughter with digestive tract contents shall not be condemned if promptly reprocessed under the supervision of an inspector and thereafter found not to be adulterated. Contaminated surfaces that are cut shall be removed only by trimming. Contaminated inner surfaces that are not cut may be cleaned by trimming alone, or at an approved reprocessing station away from the main processing line, by any method that will remove the contamination, such as vacuuming, washing, and trimming, singly or in combination. All visible specks of contamination must be removed, and if the inner surfaces are reprocessed other than soley by trimming, all surfaces of the carcass shall be treated with chlorinated water containing 20 ppm available chlorine.
(2)
An area will be designated as an approved reprocessing station only if the Administrator determines that reprocessing operations can be conducted in that area in accordance with all of the requirements of this part, and that the reprocessing methods to be utilized are capable of removing all visible specks of contamination on the inner surface of a carcass. Requests for such approval shall be submitted to the inspector in charge and shall describe the proposed area, proposed methods of reprocessing, and proposed equipment to be utilized. Whenever the Administrator finds that reprocessing operations cannot be conducted in such area in accordance with all of the requirements of this part or that the reprocessing methods utilized are not capable of removing all visible specks of contamination on the inner surface of a carcass, he may withdraw approval of such area, effective upon oral or written notification, whichever is earlier, to the operator of the establishment. In the event of oral notification, a written confirmation thereof shall be given to the operator as promptly as circumstances permit. The notification shall specify the reasons for such withdrawal and shall afford the operator of the establishment an opportunity to present his views. In any instance where there is a conflict as to the facts, a hearing shall be held to resolve such conflict.