Rectal plug and method of introducing same into a slaughtered animal

Abstract

Fecal leakage and contamination from the vent opening of an animal carcass during slaughtering and processing is eliminated by injecting a highly viscous material comprising a mixture of food grade constituents through the vent opening so as to create a self-adhering plug in the lower colon and rectum of the animal. The plug material preferably comprises a blended mixture of water, gum, modified food starch and a preservative whose viscosity is in the range of from about 220,000 centipoise to 480,000 centipoise. Being formed from food grade constituents, the offal can safely be harvested and used in animal feed as a by-product of the meat processing operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONI. Field of the InventionThis invention relates generally to meat and poultry processing, and more particularly to a material, method and apparatus for inhibiting fecal contamination of the meat during slaughter and evisceration of animals whose meat is intended for human consumption.II. Discussion of the Prior ArtA prime concern in the processing of meat animals is preventing fecal material which is present in the animal's rectum and intestines at the time of slaughter from leaking onto the carcass and causing contamination. Such contamination can result in the failure of the slaughtered animal to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) health inspection standards. Areas of the animal subjected to fecal contamination must be excised and discarded, resulting in a financial loss to the processor and to the grower.In a typical poultry processing line, the birds have their throats cut and are mounted head down on a moving chain conveyor as the blood is all...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

In accordance with the present invention, immediately after the animal is killed and suspended from a moving chain conveyor, a measured quantity, which varies depending on animal size, of a highly viscous food grade material is injected into the anus or cloacal vent of the animal which acts as a rectal plug, preventing outflow of fecal matter. Testing results show the accidental cutting by workers on the enviscerating line as the entrails are removed, thus eliminating the deposit of fecal matter on the animal which can result in condemnation by federal inspectors. The plug material is a formulation of food grade substances including a thermally stable gum, a modified food starch or other thickener and a preservative that prevents degradation of the plug material prior to use. The apparatus used to inject the plug material may comprise a piston pump, a peristalic roller pump or other type of device capable of extruding a measured quantity of the plug material on each actuation thereof sufficient to effect sealing of the anal opening or vent, but without causing rupture of the large intestine. A compressed air operated gun having a tip insertable into the anal opening or vent of the animal and designed to inject a predetermined volume of plug material upon each actuation may also be used.

The plug material of the present invention is safe for use in animal feeds which may be made from by-product (offal) of meat animals.

A further advantage of the invention is that it does not appreciably lose its viscosity when heated, and, thus, it can withstand the poultry scalding stage used in loosening feathers without losing its effectiveness as a vent seal.

Problems solved by technology

Such contamination can result in the failure of the slaughtered animal to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) health inspection standards.

Areas of the animal subjected to fecal contamination must be excised and discarded, resulting in a financial loss to the processor and to the grower.

Fecal contamination can result during the defeathering and evisceration steps due to compressive forces to which the animals are subjected, such as by the defeathering machine.

While the method described in that prior art patent proved effective for preventing leakage of fecal matter, because cyanoacrylate adhesive is considered toxic, the offal could not be approved for use in dog food or the like.