# Presentation: 406694

## Identification and Removal of Lingual and Palatine Tonsils as SRMs inBeef Market Heads and Tongues

- USDA-FSIS-OPPD

## FSIS Policy onBeef Tonsils

- Beef tonsils are identified as “specified risk materials” (SRMs) in cattle of _***all ages***_ per _[9 CFR 310.22(a)(2).](http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/janqtr/pdf/9cfr310.22.pdf)_
- FSIS policy has focused on removal of palatine and lingual tonsils in beef is outlined in Chapter II, Part V. of _[FSIS Directive 6100.4](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/6100.4.pdf)__._

## Beef Market Heads

- Beef Market Heads are typically sold as “whole” beef heads with tongue.
- Beef Market Heads can only be saved from cattle _*less than 30 months*_ of age after removal of grossly identifiable (i.e. visible to the unaided eye) _*palatine and lingual tonsil tissue*_*  (SRM) *within _specified landmarks_.

## Beef Market Heads

-  Whole beef market heads _*cannot*_ be saved from cattle _*30 months and older*_ as the entire skull and associated non-meat components are considered SRM material per 9 CFR 310.22(a)(1).

## FSIS Policy onBeef Palatine and Lingual Tonsils

*Palatine and lingual tonsil* in the oropharynx are the designated tonsils (SRM) that must be removed during head boning including preparation of beef market heads and tongues.    *Other tonsils need not be removed as SRM unless found to be unwholesome.*

**Notes:**
See FSIS Directive 6100.4 regarding removal of palatine and lingual tonsil.

## FSIS Policy onBeef Pharyngeal and Tubal Tonsils

*Based on a lack of scientific evidence, the **pharyngeal and tubal tonsils** of the nasopharynx, are *_*not*_* considered SRM and need not be removed unless found to be unwholesome.*

## FSIS Verification Procedures for Removal of Tonsils in Beef Market Heads

- FSIS Inspection personnel should follow verification procedures outlined in _[FSIS Directive 6100.4 ](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/6000_Series-Slaughter_Inspection/index.asp)__regarding SRM removal procedures in the plant’s HACCP, SSOP, or pre-requisite program procedures to remove the __*designated*_ tonsil tissue (SRM) of concern from beef market heads and tongues.

## Why the concern overBeef Market Heads?

- Nationwide Data Analysis of SRM related NRs and a recent recall suggest not all specified tonsil tissue is being adequately removed from beef market heads and tongues.

## Why the concern overBeef Market Heads?

- Due to differences in processing of beef market heads compared to regular boning of beef heads,  the verification of adequate removal of _*palatine and lingual tonsil*_ from beef market heads requires more in-depth knowledge of head anatomy and location of tonsils.

## FSIS Verification Procedures for Beef Tonsils 

- From _[FSIS Directive 6100.4](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/6100.4.pdf)__:_
-    1.   *Inspection program personnel are to verify that the establishment’s procedures for the removal, segregation, and disposition of **tonsils** [using] ... accepted head dressing procedures [include] removal of [tonsils on] the tongue...*

## FSIS Verification Procedures for Beef Tonsils (2)

- 2.  If an establishment harvests tongue for human food, inspection program personnel are to verify that the establishment’s harvesting procedure includes making a *transverse cut,* or effectively *skinning* caudal (just behind) to the last *vallate papillae *on the tongue, to ensure complete removal of *lingual tonsils*.

## Objectives

- Review the basic anatomy of the beef head observed during head inspection.
- Identify location and gross appearances of bovine _*palatine and lingual tonsils*_ on:
- Beef market head
- Beef tongues

## Approach to Objectives

- Beef head inspection entails incision of the four (4) sets of lymph nodes and cheek muscles of the head.
- Occasionally, *tonsils* may be observed during *head inspection*; therefore, we will demonstrate tonsils in a manner familiar to FSIS inspectors.

## Approach to Objectives (2)

- 	This presentation will be accessible with other SRM guidance material on the FSIS PDD (Technical Service Center) website at:
- _[http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/Technical_Service_Center/index.asp#SRM](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/Technical_Service_Center/index.asp#SRM)_

## Review of Head Inspection Anatomy

- Before locating and identifying the specified tonsils in a beef market head, it is beneficial to review the *anatomical landmarks* on the beef head observed during head inspection.

## Review of Head Inspection Anatomy (2)

- This presentation will identify the specified *palatine and lingual tonsils* (SRMs) as they may be exposed while performing head inspection using a ***tongue-in head inspection procedure***.

##    Caudal view of a beef head seen during a tongue-in head presentation.

## 4 Major Head 
Lymph Nodes:

Parotid lymph nodes (lnn.)
Lateral retropharyngeal lymph nodes 
Mandibular lnn.
Medial retropharyngeal lnn. ( below #2;  not shown; see slide #20)

**Lymph Nodes:**
- Parotid lymph nodes (lnn.)
- Lateral retropharyngeal lymph nodes
- Mandibular lnn.
- Medial retropharyngeal lnn. ( below #2;  not shown; see slide #20)

## Another view of three (3) of four (4) lymph nodes incised during head inspection

## Medial
Retropharyngeal Lymph nodes.

Notice they are located just below the muscle (sternothyro-hyoideus mm.) tissue.

- Retropharyngeal Lymph nodes.
- Notice they are located just below the muscle (*sternothyro-hyoideus mm.)* tissue.

## Note the
opening to
nasopharynx
 as indicated by presence of pharyngeal septum
(arrow) after incision of medial retropharyn-geal lnn.

- opening to
*nasopharynx*
-  as indicated by presence of *pharyngeal septum*
*(arrow) after incision of medial retropharyn-geal lnn.*

## Beef Pharyngeal and Palatine Tonsils 

- The *palatine* and *lingual tonsils* are the tonsils designated as the intended SRM to be removed and are accessible through the *oropharynx*.

## Tonsil Location

The figure eight (8) represents the location of tonsils relative to the nasopharynx  (above) and oropharnyx (below).

- The figure eight (8) represents the location of tonsils relative to the *nasopharynx*  (above) and *oropharnyx *(below).

##     Tonsil          	Location

Palatine tonsils are at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions of the oropharnyx.

Lingual tonsils are located at the base of the tongue.

*Palatine tonsils* are at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions of the *oropharnyx.*
*Lingual tonsils* are located at the base of the tongue.

## Other tonsils including the pharyngeal and tubal tonsils can be found in the nasopharynx and need not be removed as SRM.

## Size of Tonsils	

- The size of beef tonsils vary from animal to animal depending on two (2) major factors:
- age (younger>>larger tonsils) and
- reactivity to antigenic stimulation (reactive>>larger tonsils).

## Pharyngeal Tonsils

*Pharyngeal tonsils **are mentioned here only for anatomical reference.*
*Pharyngeal tonsils,* located at the roof of the nasopharynx, tend to be larger and less inflamed (congested) than other tonsils.
-  *Pharyngeal tonsils* have a soft folded appearance

- Here is the *pharyngeal tonsil* reflected downward after opening of the *nasopharynx*.
- Note the soft folded appearance.

- Nasopharynx
- Medial retropharyngeal lymph node
- Epiglottis
- Edge of the soft palate or the *palatopharyngeal arch*
* **Pharyngeal tonsil*

## Palatine Tonsils

- Located adjacent to *soft palate *below the mucosal surface and the opening of *sinus of palatine tonsil.*
- Note:   *Palatine tonsils* tend to be larger, more congested, and inflamed at post mortem.   As the length of post mortem increases, these tonsils tend to be less congested.

- Palatine tonsil		3. Pharyngeal tonsil
- 2.  Nasopharynx				4.   Tongue

- Note the *congested*
- appearance below the mucosal surface.
- The arrow points to the *palatine tonsil* and congestion around it.

- Note:
- The probe is directed at the *palatine tonsil* (1) into the opening to the *sinus of the palatine tonsil **lateral to base of the tongue (4)*.

- The *pharyngeal tonsil* (3) has sagged into the nasopharynx (2).

## f

- Note:  The opening to *sinus of the palatine tonsil* (arrows) is a useful landmark
- for locating the *palatine tonsil*.

## Beef Tongue and PalatineTonsils

- Depending on how the tongue is removed from the head, the *palatine tonsil* may be found attached to remnants of the beef tongue.

- Note:  Lingual
- tonsil to be removed is located below the yellow cut line.

## Lingual Tonsils

- Located at the base of the tongue
*Lingual tonsils* are removed by removing the epithelium and underlining muscle to a sufficient depth (~>5mm) just caudal to the last *vallate papillae *by knife trimming or skinning.

**Lingual**
**Tonsils**

## Can you identify the vallate papillae in this picture?
Answer:  See the next slide.

- Answer:  See the next slide.

**Lingual**
**      ****Tonsils**

- Beef tongues are adequately trimmed when the surface layers are removed to a sufficient depth (~>5mm) caudal to the last *vallate papillae.*

- Removal of *lingual tonsils* in
- a beef market head.

- Removal of *lingual tonsils* in a beef market head.
- Note:  Less radical removal leaving more tongue meat is also acceptable.

## Beef Market Headsans Lingual and PalatineTonsils

- Removal of the _*palatine and associated lingual tonsils*_ of a beef market head meet the requirements of 9 CFR 310.22 regarding removal of SRM tissue.

- Here is a beef market head with all tonsil related SRM removed.   The arrow points to the short cut tongue
- in situ.

- A beef market head with all tonsil related SRM removed
- is eligible for the mark of inspection and can enter    commerce.

## Questions?

- Please submit your tonsil or SRM questions to one of the following:
- AskFSIS at _[http://askfsis.custhelp.com](http://askfsis.custhelp.com/)__ _
- OR
- Contact the Policy Development Division (PDD) (formerly the TSC) at
- 	1-800-233-3935.