At which of the following steps in the slaughter process are carcasses potentially at highest risk for contamination?

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Contamination risk is highest when external contaminants on the carcass’s surface are most likely to transfer to the meat, and that happens most clearly during hide removal. The hide carries dirt, fecal material, and environmental microbes, and as it is peeled away, those contaminants can contact the carcass surfaces or the tools and surfaces used in the process. Once the hide is off, the carcass is more exposed to contamination sources, so the potential for transfer is greater than at chilling, deboning, or shipping, where controls and barriers are more likely to limit contact with external contaminants.