USDA

... 

United St ates 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 

March 19, 2024 

Electronically mailed on March 19, 2024 

Tony Paskewitz, Owner 

Prairie Meats, fuc. , Est. M47273 

2505 W. Lincoln Ave 

Olivia, Minnesota 56277 

tonyp@prairiemeatsinc.com 

320-523-7060 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

Attention: Tony and Heidi Paskewitz 

This letter serves as official notification by the Food Safety and fuspection Se1vice 

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

14, 2024, at Prairie Meats, fuc., Est. M47273, located at 2505 W. Lincoln Ave, Olivia, 

Minnesota ~ance (NOSA). This letter follows verbal notification, 

provided by_ , District Veterinaiy Medical Specialist (DVMS), to Ms. 

Heidi Paskewitz, Owner and Finance Manager, on March 18, 2024, at approximately 

1445 hours. 

On Mai·ch 15 and 18, 2024, you provided FSIS, via emails, written coITective actions 

and preventive measures, in response to the regulato1y noncompliance detailed in the 

NOS. The response outlined actions adequate to address the noncompliance regai·ding 

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 ofSlaughter Act of 1978 (HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 

et seq), and federal regulations {Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) 

Pait 313}. The following documents were included, detailing actions immediately 

implemented and finther proposed at your establishment: 

Specifically : 

• NOS Response Letter, provided March 18, 2024, at 1332 hours (10 pages) 

o CoITective actions for incident on March 14, 2024 

o Employee Corrective actions training 

o Recommended Captive Bolt Stunning Techniques for Cattle 

o Employee HHCB Stunning training 

o Record for cleaning and maintenance (HHCB) 

o Documentation for stunning 

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Tony Paskewitz, Owner Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

Prairie Meats, Inc., Est. M47273 March 19, 2024 

Based on your written response, you were info1med verbally, that the suspension of the 

assignment ofIPP, for slaughter operations, at your establishment is held in abeyance effective 

the sta1t of operations on March 19, 2024. 

The suspension will remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS personnel that your 

proposed coITective actions and preventive measures have been effectively implemented and 

are adequate to maintain compliance. Establishment personnel should monitor operations to 

prevent violations ofhumane handling and slaughter from reoccurring. It is also impo1tant for 

you to understand the responsibility ofPSIS to initiate action when there is a failure to operate 

in accordance with 9 CFR Pait 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 coITective 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 coITective 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. 

If you have questions regarding this matter lease feel free to contact the Des Moines District 

Office at 515-727-8960 or DVMS 

Sincerely, Digit ally signed by JEFFERY JEFFERY JACOBSEN 

Date: 2024.03.19 JACOBSEN 12:22:36 -05'00' 

Mr. Jeffe1y Jacobsen 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Des Moines District 

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