USDA

... 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Denver District Office 

1 Denver Federal 

Center, Bldg. 45 

P.O. Box 25387 

Denver, CO 80225 

Voice (303)236-9800 

Fax (303)236-9794 

November 2, 2023 

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC EMAIL 

Todd Elsbeny, Owner 

Lacy Sanders, Plant Manager 

Alaska Meat Packers Inc., 

Establishment 20891 M/PN 

385 E. Outer Springer Loop 

~ 99645 

--®wail.com 

lacy@alaskameatpackers.com 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE (NOSHA) 

Attention: Mr. Elsbeny, Owner 

October 30, 2023, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued your 

establishment, Alask Meat Packers, Inc., M/PN20891 , a Notice of Suspension 

(NOS). The decision to issue the NOS was made in accordance with 21 U.S.C. 

603(b) and Title 9 Code ofFederal Regulations (CFR) Paii 500.3(b), based on your 

establishment's failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.15 and 313.16 regulations. A 

Noncompliance Record (NR), written by the FSIS Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI), 

documented an egregious event whereby an establishment employee ineffectively 

stunned a bovine multiple times with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device and 

then a fireaim to render the animal unconscious. 

On November 1, 2023, the Denver District Office (DDO) received your initial 

response to the NOS and conective actions via electronic mail. The DDO requested 

clai·ification in your first response, via electronic mail, on November 1, 2023. The 

DDO received your response to the request for clarification on November 1, 2023, 

and based upon your proposed conective actions FSIS will hold the suspension of 

inspectors at your establishment in abeyance. 

The suspension will remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS inspection 

personnel. During this abeyance period, FSIS will continue to verify, assess, and 

evaluate the effectiveness ofyour proffered corrective actions to ensure that these are 

adequately implemented, and confnm that livestock are properly handled and 

slaughtered humanely. 

FSIS will design a verification plan to confnm that your establishment is 

implementing the con ective actions you provided in your response to the NOS. The 

verification plan identifies your conective action plan, the relevant regulations and 

the frequency FSIS inspection personnel will verify the implementation and 

effectiveness ofyour proffered actions. 
FSIS will provide you a copy of the verification plan. Please be advised that only FSIS can 

amend the verification plan. If your establishment wishes to modify your proposed co1Tective 

actions during the abeyance period, please submit these changes, in writing, to FSIS for approval 

prior to making any changes in your actions. 

FSIS reminds you that as an operator of a federally inspected facility, you are expected to 

comply with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act 

(HMSA) and the regulations in 9 CFR 313 to ensure livestock at your establishment are handled 

and slaughtered humanely. The regulations require establishments to take appropriate action(s) 

when either the establishment or FSIS detennines that the establishment's system controls for 

humane handling requirements are ineffective. FSIS has the responsibility to initiate action if 

your establishment fails to operate in accordance with FSIS regulations. 

Please be aware that your failure to comply with the regulato1y requirements or effectively 

implement the coilllllitments you proffered in your responses may lead to further administrative 

enforcement actions. 

Ifyou have any questions regarding this matter, you may contact the Denver District Office at 

(303) 236-9800. 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signQd by JENIFER JEHIFERMONTEVEROE 

2023 •

11• MONTEVERDE 02 DatQ: 08:04:52 -06'00 

Dr. Robe1t Reeder 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Denver District Office 

Robert.Reeder@usda.gov 

cc: D. James, DDM 

J. Monteverde, DDM 

DM 

SEIAO 

s 

s 

, CSI 

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