Code of Veterinary Practice For Poultry Processing Plant
- Cuticle (epidermis) is removed - loses colour.
- Easy picking - damage from pickers limited and few residual
feathers.
- Increases drying and discolouration of skin.
b) Soft scald (Semi-scald): 50 to 54.5°C
- Cuticle (epidermis) intact.
- Harder to defeather - extra pickers required may increase
skin damage.
- More desirable colour.
4.0 DEFEATHERING, HEAD AND FEET REMOVAL
4.1 Continuous collection and removal of feather from the defeathering and scalding areas shall be carried out without contamination of product or the processing area.
4.2 Feathers should be removed from the areas for treatment or disposal. Drains in plucking areas leading to waste water disposal system should be effectively screened to exclude feathers.
4.3 Containers to receive condemned, inedible or contaminated materials should be provided throughout the premises. A container, drain or mechanical removal system should be positioned at both the puller and foot unloader to ensure that all heads and feet fall directly into them.
4.4 Containers used for condemned, inedible or contaminated materials shall be identi ed by the word “Inedible” clearly marked in a red or other contrasting colour and should not be used for handling edible products.
4.5 Unless otherwise approved, heads shall be removed in the defeathering section.
4.6 Unless otherwise approved, feet shall be removed before evisceration of the carcass.
4.7 Where manual processing involving total immersion scalding and rotary plucking is carried out, feet may be removed in the evisceration section.
4.8 Where and approved programme of production enables the practice of dressing for a market with head and feet on:
42