USDA 

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United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and Inspection 

Service 

Office of Field Operations 

Jackson District Office 

713 S Pear Orchard Rd. 

Plaza 2, Suite 402 

Ridgeland, MS 39157 

October 12, 2023 

Mason Hills, LLC ELECTRONIC MAIL on October 12, 2023 

Est. Number: M47993 FEDEX TRACKING # 773720011860 

11652-AWheatcroft Road N 

Grand Bay, Alabama 36541 

masonhillsfann@gmail.com 

251-865-7748 

Attention: Mr. Joseph Mason, Owner 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

On October 11, 2023, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a Notice of 

Suspension to your establishment to withhold the federal marks of inspection and 

suspend the assignment of Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) at Mason Hills, Est. 

M47993, located at 11652-A Wheatcroft Road N, Grand Bay, AL. This action included 

your Slaughter Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) processes employed at 

your establishment. The decision to institute this enforcement action was in accordance 

with Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Rules ofPractice 500.3(b), 

based on the dete1mination that your establishment did not handle or slaughter animals 

humanely. The evidence demonstrated failure to comply with the Federal Meat 

Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 603), the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act 

(HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), and the regulato1y requirements (9 CFR Pait 313). 

On October 11, 2023, at 10:50 AM, a black bull was put in your establishment's 

knocking box for slaughter. There was an initial shot with the stun gun (captive bolt), 

based on conscious tracking eye movement the first shot was ineffective. The second 

shot was taken inunediately but due to conscious tracking eye movement and conscious 

vocalizing, the second shot was ineffective. The animal was stuck with a knife to tiy 

and bleed it out before the third shot, while still conscious. There was some gun failure 

between the second and third shot, before a third shot was taken. Due to conscious 

vocalizing and righting effo1ts, the third shot was deemed ineffective. The Superviso1y 

Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) entered and examined the animal. The animal was 

then stunned again with a fomth attempt using the same captive bolt stmmer as the third 

attempt which rendered the animal unconscious and it remained so thereafter. The 

knocking box was tagged with USDA tag no, B38909959. Ann Kittrell, Plant Manager, 

was notified that slaughter would be suspended due to this incident in humane 

handling. 

On October 12, 2023, you submitted your first w1itten response with coITective actions 

and preventive measures to meet regulato1y requirements. The Jackson District Office 

(JDO) analyzed your response and advised you that the proffered coITective actions and 

preventive measures were not adequate. A request for clarification and additional 

inf01mation was sent via electronic mail from the JDO to your establishment on 

October 12, 2023. 

1 
Joseph Mason, Owner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Mason Hills, Est. M47993 October 12, 2023 

On October 12, 2023, you submitted a second response, which included all clarifications and additional 

info1mation with w1itten conective actions and preventive measures to meet regulato1y requirements. The 

Jackson Distiict Office analyzed your proffered conective actions and preventive measures and 

detemlined that the response adequately addressed the identified issues. On October 12, 2023, at 

approximately 10:45 AM, the FSIS Jackson Distiict Office verbally info1med you ofFSIS's decision to 

hold the suspension in abeyance. This letter is to fo1mally info1m you of this action. 

A copy of the FSIS Verification Plan (VP) will be provided to assist you in understanding the nature and 

impo1tance ofthe Agency's ve1ification activities. The FSIS Verification Plan is designed to verify that 

your establishment properly implements the revisions to its humane handling of animals and other 

conective actions and preventive measures stated in your October 12, 2023, responses and that these 

revisions and corrective actions and preventive measures are effective in ensuring future regulato1y 

compliance. The FSIS Ve1ification Plan identifies your conective actions, the regulato1y requirement(s), 

and the PHIS Task under which FSIS officials will ve1ify the implementation and effectiveness ofyour 

proffered action plan. Only FSIS can amend the ve1ification plan and any modifications to your submitted 

acceptable conective actions made during the abeyance period will need to be submitted in w1iting to 

FSIS for ve1ification ofcompliance prior to implementation by your establishment. 

Please be advised that this suspension ofinspection at your establishment will remain in Abeyance 

pending verification by FSIS that your proposed conective actions and preventive measures have been 

implemented and are effective in enswing future regulato1y compliance. Agency personnel will begin 

immediate verification ofyour conective actions and preventive measures. 

It is impo1tant for you to understand that FSIS has the responsibility to initiate action if your 

establishment fails to operate in accordance with the regulations, or conditions occur that do not comply 

with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. In these situations, FSIS personnel will take regulato1y 

conti·ol of product or other appropriate action. 

Please be fuither advised that as a federally inspected establishment, you are expected to comply with the 

Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and all applicable regulations 

and other requirements concerning the preparation, sale, and transportation ofmeat products. Failure to 

comply with these requirements or to effectively implement the measures addressed in your responses, 

dated October 12, 2023, could result in the immediate suspension of inspection at your establishment or 

other appropriate action(s). 

Ifyou have any questions, please contact Dr. Lany Davis via telephone at (601) 863-4206 or via 

electi·onic mail at lany.davis4@usda.gov. Additionally, you can contact the Jackson Distiict Office at 

(601) 965-4312 or by fax at (601) 965-5901. 

Sincerely, Digitally signed by KERMIT KERMIT HARVEY 

Date: 2023.10.12 I0:52: I 0 HARVEY -05'00' 

for: 

Dr. Lany Davis 

Disti·ict Manager 

Jackson Distiict Office 

2 
Joseph Mason, Owner Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

Mason Hills, Est. M47993 October 12, 2023 

Cc: 

, Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator 

Mr. Lany Horte1t, OIEA Regional Director 

Dr. Lany Davis, DM 

Dr. Kennit Ha1vey, DDM 

Ms. Che1yl Herny, DDM 

Dr. Elin Moses, DDM/FLS 

,SEIAO 

, DCS 

, DVMS 

s 

, SPHV at Est. M47993 

, CSI at Est. M47993 

FO Qua1ter y Repo1ts 

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