Day 066 - 14 Dec 94 - Page 54


     
     1
     2   Q.   Until it is released?
     3        A.  That is correct.  To answer the other question,
     4        "inspection", that is an area where it is our own people,
     5        whether it could be the plant, that will inspect the meat.
     6
     7   Q.   Then we go around the corner, past another sterile apron
     8        wash to an oblong, a rectangle, marked "hatch and fat
     9        conveyor"; what is that for?
    10        A.  This is for the trimmings.  After the muscles have been
    11        separated, there are some trimmings that are fat that are
    12        sent through this process, and it could be sent to
    13        rendering, it could be sent to a company that produces pet
    14        foods and so forth.
    15
    16   Q.   Then more or less finally, there is a man standing in a
    17        smaller rectangle headed sideways "carcass wash"; what does
    18        that mean?
    19        A.  At the end of the process when the carcass has been
    20        processed and cleaned, there is a final wash that is
    21        applied to remove some of the bond dust that might have
    22        been left when they split the carcasses, or may be some
    23        other blood that can still be present.
    24
    25   Q.   Is that a satisfactory way of ensuring that the carcass, as
    26        far as possible, at this stage is free of contamination?
    27        A.  Yes, some companies also use in this process some
    28        anti-bacterials such as acids.  There is an acid wash that
    29        has now been looked into it and has been approved for use
    30        in the US, so as to go even further in case there is some
    31        still some bacteria present, it will kill it.
    32
    33   MR. RAMPTON:  Unless your Lordship has any other questions about
    34        this plan at the moment perhaps we can all put it away?
    35
    36   MR. JUSTICE  BELL:  No.
    37
    38   MR. MORRIS:  Can I ask what the status of this plan is because
    39        it has not got a date?  I do not know if it is complete,
    40        I presume it is, but on the right-hand side it looks like
    41        there may be something further.
    42
    43   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I assume someone is going to be called in due
    44        course who will help us about the plan.
    45
    46   MR. RAMPTON:  Yes.
    47
    48   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Mr. Morris and Ms. Steel will be able to ask
    49        him anything about its accuracy or anything more they want
    50        to ask about procedures.  But, since Dr. Gomez Gonzales is 
    51        here first, it is put to him on the basis that it is an 
    52        accurate reflection in so far as it shows anything.  You 
    53        will have the opportunity to question a witness as to its
    54        accuracy or any further information about the particular
    55        abattoir in due course.
    56
    57   MR. RAMPTON (To the witness):  One final question, Dr. Gomez
    58        Gonzales, about cattle before I move briefly on to pigs:
    59        To what extent are cattle in the United States fed on soya
    60        meal?

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