USDA 

81 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Atlanta District Office 

100 Alabama St., SW. 

Suite 3R90 

Atlanta, GA. 30303 

Phone: 404-562-5900 

Fax: 404-562-5877 

Toll Free: 

800-282-7005 

CERTIFIED MAIL 

March 18, 2024 

Gray's & Danny's lnvestment, Inc. 

Est.M40244 

29513 US Hwy 27 

Moore Haven, FL 33471 

~ gmail.com 

(708) 307-6578 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

Dear Mr. Ammar Mohammad: 

On March 11, 2024, the Food Safety, and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a 

Notice of Suspension (NOS) withholding the marks of inspection and 

suspending the assignment of slaughter inspection program personnel for 

livestock slaughter at Gray 's & Danny's fnvestment, Inc., Est. 

M40244, located at 29513 US Hwy 27, Moore Haven, FL 33471. 

This action was based on your establishment's failure to handle livestock 

humanely according to 9 CFR Part 313. 

On March 12, 2024, you submitted written corrective actions and preventive 

measuJes to meet tbe requirements of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. 

Your corrective actions and preventive measures included; conducting a 

thorough investigation to identify the root cause and prevent future 

occurrences; identifying the need for continuous training, supervision and 

mentorsbip to ensure full compliance with humane handling protocols; 

meeting with your employees to discuss the incident and the importance of 

humane handling: implementing a zero tolerance policy associated with 

deviations from established plant procedures; and instituting a monthly training 

program for humane handling protocols. 

On March 13, 2024, FSIS determined that the proffered corrective actions and 

preventive measures submitted were not adequate to address the inhumane 

1 
Mr. Ammar Mohammed, Owner Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

Gray's & Danny's Investment, Inc., M40244 March 18, 2024 

handling incident and clarification was requested. Specifically, FSJS requested you to: 

provide information as to what you determined to be the root cause ofthe incident; 

provide a copy of your Humane Handling Protocol; provide a copy ofthe record that will 

be used to document monthly training ofyour employees associated with your humane 

handling protocol; provide a copy ofthe record documenting that your employees were 

retrained; clarify how you will monitor, during daily slaughter operations, that your 

training was effective; provide a copy ofthe record that will be used to document 

monitoring ofyour daily slaughter operations; clarify the method(s) used by the 

"handler" to position and restrain small ruminants during the ritual (Halal) slaughter 

process; clarify the methods used by the employee performing the ritual cut to determine 

that a proper cut has been made; and clarify the methods that will be used to verify that 

the small ruminants are properly bled out prior to being released by the handler. 

On March 14, 2024, you submitted your second response to provide clarification to your 

proffered corrective actions. Your response included: a lack of experience among your 

employees, employees' failure to follow proper protocol and the use of a dull knife while 

performing the ritual cut were the root causes of the incident; you provided a copy ofthe 

record that will be used to document monthly training ofyour employees associated with 

your humane handling protocol; you provided a copy of a record documenting that your 

employees were trained on February 2, 2024; you provided a copy of the "Humane 

Handling Monitoring Form", which includes animal handling, sharpening & sanitizing of 

knives, proper cut and proper bleeding time and will be used to document monitoring of 

your daily slaughter operations and training effectiveness; you added an employee to 

observe the positioning ofthe animal and the ritual cut during slaughter operations; you 

would use a video on humane handling of livestock as part of your employee retraining; 

and you stated that the handler presents the goat or lamb to the person performing the 

ritual cut and holds up a hind leg so the cut can be done waiting no less than 4 seconds to 

allow the person performing the cut to assess the cut and determine if the cut was 

adequate for the animal to bleed out before moving it to the work zone. 

On March 14, 2024, PSIS determined that the proffered corrective actions and preventive 

measures submitted were not adequate to address the inhumane handling incident and 

additional clarification was requested. Specifically, FSIS requested; a copy of the record 

used to document retraining of your employees in your Humane Handling Protocols; a 

link to the humane handling video that will be used as part ofyour employee retraining; a 

copy of the record documenting the employees viewed the video; clarification of the 

frequency for monitoring and documenting your daily slaughter operations on the 

2 
Mr. Ammar Mohammed, Owner Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

Gray' s & Danny's Investment, Inc., M40244 March 18, 2024 

"Humane Handling Monitoring Form"; and clarification of the method(s) that will be 

used to verify that the small ruminants are properly bled out (unconscious) prior to being 

released by the handler. 

On March 14, 2024, you submitted your third response to provide additional clarification 

to your proffered corrective action. Your response included; a copy ofthe record used to 

document retraining ofyour employees in your Humane Handling Protocols; a link to the 

humane handling video that was used as part ofyour employee retraining; a copy ofthe 

record documenting the employees viewed the video; clarification that 100% ofthe small 

ruminants will be monitored and the results wi11 be recorded on lot basis each day of 

slaughter; and clarification that the signs ofan unconscious animal include no 

vocalization, no righting reflex and no tracking eye movement. 

On March 14, 2024, you were verbally notified by PSIS that the corrective actions and 

preventive measures met the requirements to place Gray' s & Danny's Investment, Inc., 

Est. M40244, in Abeyance and that a Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance (NOSHA) 

and Verification Plan (VP) would be issued. You are hereby being provided written 

notification ofthe Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance. 

Please be further advised that the suspension of inspection at your establishment will 

remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS that your proposed corrective actions 

and preventive measures have been implemented and are effective in ensuring future 

regulatory compliance and preventing the inhumane treatment of animals. Agency 

personnel will begin immediate verification of your corrective actions and preventive 

measures. 

A copy ofthe FSIS Verification Plan is attached to assist you in understanding the nature 

and importance of the agency's verification activities. The FSIS Verification Plan is 

designed to verify that your establishment fully implements the revisions to its humane 

handling of animals and other corrective actions stated in your responses, and that these 

revisions and corrective actions are effective in ensuring future regulatory compliance. 

The FSIS Verification Plan identifies your proposed corrective actions, the regulatory 

requirement(s), and the PHIS Task under which FSIS officials will verify the 

implementation and effectiveness ofyour proposed action plan. 

Please be reminded that as a federally inspected establishment, you are expected to 

comply with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate actions to prevent the inhumane 

handling of animals. It is important for you to understand that FSIS has the 

responsibility to initiate action if your establishment fails to operate in accordance with 

3 
Mr. Ammar Mohammed, Ovvner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Gray's & Danny's Investment, Inc., M40244 March 18, 2024 

the regulations, or conditions occur that do not comply with the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act. Please be advised that failure to comply with these regulatory 

requirements or failure to effective]y implement your proposed corrective actions and 

preventive measures could result in the immediate suspension of inspection at your 

establishment or other appropriate action. 

Jf you have any questions, please contact the Atlanta District Office at 404-562-5900. 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed by 

EDWARD HEPBURN EDWARD HEPBURN 

Date: 2024.03.18 

09:28:47 -04'00' 

Dr. Phyllis Adams 

District Manager 

cc: . . Karen Hunter, EARO 

Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator 

Larry Hartert, OIEA Regional Director 

Edward Hepburn, DDM 

Barney Welch, DDM 

Trac B1 ant DOM 

SElAO 

cs 

DVMS 

FLS 

SPHV 

FO/Quarterly Reports 

4 
USDA 

United States Department 

--

of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

March 18, 2024 Office of Field Operations 

Atlanta District Office 

100Alabama St., SW. Gray's & Danny's Investment, Inc. 

Suite 3R90 

Atlanta, GA. 30303 Establishment M40244 

Phone: 404-562-5900 Verification Plan Fax: 404-562-5877 

Toll Free: 

800-282-70051 Week ending: _____ 

This Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Verification Plan is designed to verify that 

the establishment fully implements the corrective actions and preventive measures proffered 

in response to the Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance (NOSHA) issued on March 18, 

2024. 

The Vetification Plan will be utilized by inspection personnel and the Atlanta District Office 

to evaluate the effectiveness of the corrective actions in assuring future regulatory 

compliance. This FSIS Verification Plan identifies the corrective actions, the relevant 

regulatory requirements, and the PHIS Task under which FSIS officials will verify the 

implementation and effectiveness ofthe proposed action plan. These tasks can be performed 

as an unscheduled task if the task is not scheduled on the Daily Procedure Schedule. After 

completion, inspection personnel will send this report on a Bi-weekly basis to the 

District Case Specialist and the District Veterinary Medical Office for review. 

Complete this report once every two (2) weeks. 

Handling ofLivestock 

Issue/ Action Regulation PIDSCode 

1. Verify by record review that 

employees handling livestock 

receive monthly training 

associated with the 

establishment's humane handling 

protocol. (Monthly) 

9 CFR313.l & 

9 CFR 313.2 

HH Task - PHIS HATS 

Category I, II, III, IV, V, VI, 

or VIL 

Finding: 

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 
VERIFICATION PLAN 

Mr. Ammar Mohammad, Owner 

Gray's & Danny's Investment, Inc. 

Est. M40244 

March 18, 2024 

Page 2 of3 

2. Verify by direct observation 

that employees handling 

livestock follow the 

establishment's livestock 

humane handling protocol and 

USDA regulatory requirements 

for humane handling of 

livestock. 

(Two times per shift) 

9 CFR313.1 

&9CFR 

313.2 

HH Task - PHIS HATS 

Category I, II, III, IV, V, VI, 

or VII. 

Finding: 

3. Verify by direct observation 

that the employees performing 

the ritual slaughter process. 

Steps in the ritual slaughter 

process include; animal 

handling, sharpening & 

sanitizing the knives, proper 

ritual cut & proper bleed time 

(unconsciousness) 

(Two times per shift) 

9 CFR 313.1 

&9CFR 

313.2 

HH Task - PHIS HATS 

Category I, II, III, IV, V, VI, 

or VII. 

Finding: 

4. Verify by record review that 

the establishment monitors 

100% ofthe small ruminants 

killed. Records will be made 

on a lot basis and include: the 

number ofanimals in the lot, 

observations ofanimal 

handling, sharpening & 

sanitation of the knives, proper 

cut & proper bleed time 

(unconsciousness) and any 

9 CFR 313.1 

&9CFR 

313.2 

HH Task - PHIS HATS 

Category VIII 

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 
VERIFICATION PLAN 

Mr. Ammar Mohammad, Owner 

Gray's & Danny's Investment, Inc. 

Est. M40244 

March 18, 2024 

Pa_ge 3 of3 

corrective actions taken. 

Signs ofunconsciousness 

include: No vocalization, no 

righting reflex & no tracking 

eye movement. 

(Once per shift) 

Finding 

5. Verify by direct observation 9 CFR 313.1 Ill-I Task - PHIS HATS 

the establishment installs a 

squeeze chute for small 

ruminants when the ne kill 

&9CFR 

313.2 

Category VIII 

floor is finished. The targeted 

completion date is May 1, 

2024. 

(Once per shift) 

Finding 

COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

Two Week Period Ending -

Comments: 

Continue Verification Process: Yes/No 

No Further Action/ Close with a Letter ofWarning: 

Signature ofIPP: 

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer