Hygiene Performance Rating

What is a Hygiene Performance Rating? #

• An audit carried out by an independent party with leading expertise in slaughter hygiene
• A thorough and systematic audit of the entire slaughter line
• An audit of slaughter hygiene for cattle, sheep and goats, pigs and poultry
• A scientifically documented audit tool; a good result will most likely mean a lower number of bacteria

What the Abattoir Gains from the Audit #

• A detailed report identifying the areas with the greatest potential for hygiene improvement
• An overview of the hygiene status that can support the abattoir's ongoing improvement efforts
• Documentation that can be used towards authorities and customers

Practical Implementation #

In the Hygiene Performance Rating, the slaughter line is divided into areas, and each area has a set of questions. Each question is answered with an observation: 1 – acceptable, 2 – potential for improvement, 3 – not acceptable. In addition, each question is weighted both hygienically and economically, so that factors with the greatest hygienic significance and that are easy to address – for example work routines – carry the most weight. The observations made during a Hygiene Performance Rating are not an average across all operators; instead, they reveal whether a single operator is doing something wrong, systematically or sporadically. Administrative routine and management facilitation are also included. While these do not always have a direct impact on the carcasses, they do affect the attitudes and motivation of the employees.

After the examination of the slaughter line, the abattoir receives a detailed report elaborating on the observations, along with any photos and videos that illustrate the findings. An overall result is calculated as a percentage, together with a result for each individual area. The report is presented to the abattoir the same day, and the abattoir itself decides who is present. If desired, a hygiene course can also be held for the operators, focusing on the findings from the audit. The detailed report allows the abattoir to continue working on measures to improve slaughter hygiene where this is possible and desirable. Priority should be given to areas with the greatest potential for hygienic improvement and where the abattoir can implement corrective measures. Not everything can be changed at once.

Animalia's role is to point out everything we see that could contaminate the meat along the slaughter line, and to share our expertise. It is the abattoir itself that must find solutions where this is possible and desirable, and a cost/benefit analysis should be carried out. If the Hygiene Performance Rating is conducted on behalf of a customer, that customer may set their own demands for the abattoir.

Want to Know More? #

The practical approach in a Hygiene Performance Rating sets it apart from ordinary audits, which focus more heavily on written routines. Feedback from abattoirs that have undergone a Hygiene Performance Rating is that this is a highly useful audit.