JFHMS Quality Assurance Practice Exam

What is the appropriate action when a needle breaks in a heifer's tissue and cannot be recovered?

1. Sell the meat to the public

2. Leave it and continue

3. Harvest at a custom meat processor

4. Dispose of the animal immediately

The correct answer is: Harvest at a custom meat processor

The appropriate action when a needle breaks in a heifer's tissue and cannot be recovered is to harvest the animal at a custom meat processor. This choice ensures that the animal is processed in a manner that prioritizes food safety and quality assurance. Custom meat processors are equipped with the necessary facilities and expertise to handle such situations appropriately. They can ensure that the meat is examined and that any foreign material, including remnants of the broken needle, is removed as part of the harvest process. This decision also adheres to regulatory standards that govern meat production and consumption, minimizing any potential risks to public health and safety. Processing the animal in a controlled environment allows for a thorough inspection and can help prevent contamination of the meat. The other options present risks to food safety and ethical considerations in animal husbandry. Selling the meat to the public would pose a significant health risk, leaving the broken needle inside the animal is unadvisable and potentially dangerous, and disposing of the animal immediately may not maximize the use of its meat, which could be safely processed under proper conditions. Thus, utilizing a custom meat processor is the best course of action in this scenario.