Physical and hygienic-sanitary conditions of poultry slaughterhouses in the municipality of Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the physical and hygienic-sanitary conditions of poultry slaughterhouses in the municipality of Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil. Ten slaughterhouses were visited, using a checklist as an evaluation criterion, seeking to assess the physical and hygienic-sanitary conditions of facilities, equipment, handlers, environment, production, and food transportation, during the entire slaughtering process, to verify compliance with current legislation. The slaughterhouses visited (10 / 100%) had no Official Inspection Service and did not obey the rules established by legislation, showing precarious physical and hygienic-sanitary conditions of operation. Most of the establishments (9 / 90%) were located in the urban area and one (10%) in the rural area. None of them followed the animal welfare recommendations. Moreover, seven (70%) establishments had no waste treatment and the residues were dumped in an open area. Therefore, it was concluded that the hygienic-sanitary conditions of poultry slaughterhouses in Parnaíba pose risks to meet quality and the health of slaughterhouses employees and people who consume the products from those establishments.