USDA

... 

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 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Febmaiy 23, 2024 

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC EMAIL 

Ms. Deborah Fitch, Owner 

Fitch Ranch Aliisan Meat Company 

Establishment 46419 MIPN 

383 East 1st Street 

Craig, CO 81625 

Deborah@fitchranch.com 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE (NOSHA) 

On Febmaiy 21, 2024, the Food Safety and Inspection Se1vice (FSIS) issued your 

establishment, Fitch Ranch Aliisan Meat Co., M46419, a Notice ofSuspension 

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

603(b) and Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Pali 500.3(b ), based on your 

establishment's failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2 regulations. A Noncompliance 

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

egregious event whereby establishment employees dragged a lame conscious market 

swine from a livestock trailer and down into the alleyway. 

On Febmaiy 21 , 2024, the Denver District Office (DDO) received your initial 

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

clai·ification to your first response, via electronic mail, on Febrna1y 21, 2024. The 

DDO received your response to the request for clarification, via electronic mail, on 

Febmaiy 22, 2024. The DDO requested additional clarification, via electronic mail, 

on Febmaiy 22, 2024. The DDO received your response to the second request for 

clai·ification on Febmaiy 22, 2024, 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. Dm-ing this abeyance period, FSIS will continue to verify, assess, and 

evaluate the effectiveness ofyour proffered corrective actions to ensure that these ai·e 

adequately implemented, and confnm that livestock are properly handled and 

slaughtered humanely. 

FSIS will design a verification plan to confom 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. Ifyour 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 ofSlaughter 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 commitments 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 sig,igd by ROBERT 

ROBERT REEDER ~~E2~24.02.23 10:41:47 

-07'00 

Dr. Robe1t Reeder 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Denver District Office 

Robert.Reeder@usda.gov 

cc: R. Reeder, DM 

D. James, DDM 

J. Monteverde, DDM 

J. VanHook DDM 

,SEIAO 

, VMS 

, FLS 

, SPHV 

, CSI 

OIEA 

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