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 

December 15, 2023 

Electrnnically Delivered on December 15, 2023 

Lyle Meyer, Vice President of Operations 

Long Prairie Packing, LLC 

10 Riverside Drive 

Long Prairie, MN 56347 

lmeyer@americanfoodsgroup.com 

320-732-8334 

LETTER OF DEFERRAL 

Attention: Mr. Meyer 

This letter confnms verbal notification by , acting District Case 

Specialist, to _ , Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager, at 

approximatel~ cember 15, 2023, of the Des Moines District Office, 

Food Safety and Inspection Se1v ice (FSIS) decision to defer further action at this 

time, regarding the Notice of Intended Enforcement (NOIE). 

The NOIE was initiated on December 12, 2023, due to the obse1vation of an 

egregious humane handling incident at Establishment M253, Long Prairie Packing, 

LLC, located at 10 Riverside Drive, Long Prairie, Minnesota 56347. On December 

12, 13, and 14, 2023 you provided this office, via multiple emails, written coITective 

actions and preventative measures, in response to the regulato1y noncompliance 

detailed in the NOIE. 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 ofSlaughter Act of 

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

Federal Regulations (9 CFR) Paii 313.15(a)(l)} . 

Based on your written response, you were info1med via telephone, that the 

suspension ofthe assignment ofIPP, for slaughter operations, at your establishment 

is placed in defe1rnl effective December 15, 2023. 

The defeITal period will remain 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 occmTing in the future. It is also impo1iant for you to understand the 

responsibility ofFSIS to initiate action when there is a failure to operate in 

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Lyle Meyer, Vice President of Operations Letter of Defe1rnl 

Long Prairie Packing, LLC, Est. M253 December 15, 2023 

accordance with 9 CFR Pait 313 ofthe regulations. 

During the defe1rnl 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 place the NOIE in 

deferral is based on the proffered actions. Any modifications to your submitted coITective actions 

and preventive measures made during the defeITal 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 administrntive or legal action. 

If you have questions regar~ease feel free to contact the Des Moines District 

Office, at 515-727-8960 or-District Veterina1y Medical Specialist (DVMS), at 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed by MARK MARK JOHNSON 

Date: 2023.12.15 (for) JOHNSON 08:02:08 -06"00' 

Dawn Sprouls, DVM 

Disti·ict Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Des Moines Disti·ict Office 

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