-

USDA 

United States Department 

--

of Agriculture 

-

-

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Des Moines District 

Office 

Neal Smith Federal 

Building 

210 Walnut Street 

Room 985 

Des Moines, IA 

50309-2123 

Voice 515.727.8960 

Fax 515.727.8991 

October 16, 2023 

Delivered via Electronic Mail on October 16, 2023 

Alsager Meats 

Joshua Alsager, Owner 

343 4th Street 

Audubon, Minnesota 56511 

audubonmeatsprocessing@gmail.com 

Attention: Joshua Alsager, Owner 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

This letter serves as official notification by the Food Safety and Inspection Service 

(FSIS) of our decision to place the Notice of Suspension (NOS), initiated on July 25, 

(b) (6)

2023, at EST. M823, Alsager

(b) (6)

 Meats, located at 343 4th Street, Audubon, MN 56511, 

into abeyance (NOSA). This letter follows verbal notification, provided by 

(b) (6)

, DVMS to , Manager on October 16, 2023. 

From October 10-16, 2023, you provided FSIS, via emails, written corrective 

actions and preventive measures, in response to the regulatory noncompliance 

detailed in the NOS. The response outlined actions adequate to address the 

noncompliance regarding humane handling of livestock requirements, including a 

plan to maintain compliance with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) Title 21 

of the United States Code (21 U.S.C. 603), the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 

1978 (HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq), and federal regulations {Title 9 of the Code 

of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) Part 313}. The following documents were 

included, detailing actions immediately implemented and further proposed at 

your establishment: 

Specifically: 

• NOS Response email (body of email) 

o Training material hyperlinks – 2 videos. 

• Observation of Monitoring and Stunning Activities record (1 

page) 

• Signed Document for Training (1 page) 

Based on your written response, you were informed verbally, that the suspension 

of the assignment of IPP, for slaughter operations, at your establishment is held 

in abeyance effective at 9:38 am on October 16, 2023. 

The suspension will remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS personnel 

that your proposed corrective actions and preventive measures have been 

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 
Joshua Alsager, Owner Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

Alsager Meats, Est. M823 October 16, 2023 

effectively implemented and are adequate to maintain compliance. Establishment 

personnel should monitor operations to prevent violations of humane handling 

and slaughter from reoccmTing. It is also important for you to understand the 

responsibility of FSIS to initiate action when there is a failure to operate in 

accordance with 9 CFR Part 313 of the regulations. 

During the abeyance period verification activities will be conducted by IPP and 

results will be reported to the Des Moines District Office on a weekly basis. The 

decision to hold the suspension action in abeyance is based on the proffered 

actions. Any modifications to your submitted conective actions and preventive 

measures made during the abeyance period need to be submitted, in writing, to 

the Des Moines District Office for review prior to implementation by your 

establishment. 

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

comply with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate conective action to prevent 

inhumane handling of livestock at your establishment. Your failure to comply 

with these requirements or to implement the measures in your action plan could 

result in reinstatement of the suspension of inspection at your establishment or 

other appropriate administrative or legal action. 

Ifyou have questions regarding this matter lease feel free to contact the Des Moines 

Disti·ict Office, at 515-727-8960 or District Veterinru Medical 

Specialist (DVMS), at , DVMS, at 

Sincerely, Digitally signed by JEFFERY JEFFERY JACOBSEN 

Da for te: 2023.10.16 10:48:48 JACOBSEN -05'00' 

Dawn Sprouls, DVM 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Des Moines Disti·ict Office 

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