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 21, 2024 

SENT VIA 

ELECTRONIC MAIL 

Ms. Deborah Fitch, Owner 

Fitch Ranch Aliisan Meat Company 

Establishment 46419 MIPN 

383 East 1st Street 

Craig, CO 81625 

Deborah@fitchranch.com 

Notice ofSuspension (NOS) 

This letter confmns the verbal notification provided to your establishment, Fitch Ranch 

Aliisan Meat Company, Establishment M46419, located in Craig, CO on Wednesday, 

Febmaiy 21, 2024, by the Food Safety fu.spection Service (FSIS), Denver District, of 

the notice ofsuspension (NOS) ofthe assignment ofinspectors and the withholding of 

the mai·ks ofinspection at your establishment for slaughter operations. Deputy District 

Manager, Jenifer Monteverde, notified you ofthe suspension action. This action was 

initiated in accordance with Title 21 ofthe United States Code (USC), Section 603(b) 

and Title 9 ofthe Code ofFederal Regulations (CFR) Pa1i 500.3(b) (Rules ofPractice). 

Background Authority 

The Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), 21 USC Section 603(b), provides for the 

pmpose ofpreventing the inhumane slaughtering oflivestock. The FMIA gives FSIS 

the authority, as designated by the Secretaiy ofthe Depaliment ofAgriculture, to 

prescribe mles and regulations describing examinations and inspections of the 

method by which cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines are 

slaughtered in the establishments inspected under the FMIA. The FMIA also 

provides FSIS Program personnel the authority to suspend operations at a 

slaughtering establishment if FSIS finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, 

mules or other equines have been slaughtered or handled in connection with 

slaughter at such establishments by any method not in accordance with the Humane 

Methods ofSlaughter Act (HMSA) ofAugust 27, 1958 (72 Statute 862; Title 7 USC, 

Sections 1901-1906), until the establishment furnishes FSIS with satisfacto1y 

assurances that all slaughtering and handling in connection with the slaughter of 

livestock shall be in accordance with such methods. 

Under the authorities ofthese Acts, FSIS has prescribed mles and regulations 

required for the humane slaughtering oflivestock, contained in Title 9 CFR Paii 313. 

FSIS has also developed Rules ofPractice regai·ding enforcement prescribed in 9 

CFR Pait 500. The Rules of Practice describe the types of enforcement actions that 

FSIS may take and include procedures for taking a withholding action and or 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

suspension, with or without prior notification, as well as the procedures for filing a complaint to 

withdraw a Grant of Federal Inspection. 

Findings/Basis for Action 

On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, the FSIS Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) documented in a 

Noncompliance Record (NR) the following event at Est. M46419: 

“HATS Category II: Truck Unloading 

On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, I, the CSI, observed the following noncompliance(s): 

While the establishment was unloading a lame market swine from a livestock trailer at the 

secondary entrance into the alleyway, I observed an establishment employee grab the conscience 

market swine by its ears and drag the animal on its belly off of the trailer. The swine began 

vocalizing when it was grabbed by the ears. The gap or height the animal fell from the trailer to 

the concrete floor was approximately 10 inches. Once the market swine was out of the trailer 

and laying on the ground, the same establishment employee then grabbed the swine by its ears 

again and continued to drag the animal on its belly approximately 5 feet towards the alleyway 

and the swine sat up into a semi sitting position for approximately 3 feet while still being 

dragged by its ears. The swine was vocalizing while being dragged. Once in the alleyway, the 

market swine stood up on its own and walked away from the establishment employee. 

I applied U.S. Reject Tag # B27292556 to the stun box and alleyway and verbally notified the 

establishment owner of the noncompliance. 

The Denver District Management Team was notified via supervisory channels. There have been 

no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. This establishment 

has not implemented a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.” 

Summary 

The decision to suspend the assignment of inspectors at your establishment is based on this 

noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(a) and 313.2(d)(2), your establishment's humane handling 

noncompliance history, and that your firm does not operate with a Robust Systematic Approach. 

The suspension of the assignment of inspectors will remain in effect until such time as you 

provide the Denver District Office adequate written corrective actions and preventative measures 

to ensure that livestock at your establishment are handled and slaughtered humanely, and in 

accordance with the FMIA, the HMSA and 9 CFR 313 regulations. 

These should include: 

• A written description of the incident. 

• The root cause of the incident. 

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• Y om immediate cotTective actions. 

• Any training or retraining of employees you plan to provide, including materials 

you're planning to use. 

• Any monitoring procedmes, including any documentation records. 

In accordance with Title 9 CFR 500.5(a)(5), you may appeal this action by contacting: 

William Griffin 

Executive Associate for Regulato1y Operations 

Office of Field Operations 

Food Safety and Inspection Se1v ice 

United States Depaitment of Agriculture 

SB, Room 3164 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20250 

Email: William.Griffinl@usda.gov 

Phone: (202) 961-7156 

In accordance with 9 CFR Part 500.5 (d), you may request a heai·ing concerning this action by 

contacting: 

Scott C. Safian 

Director, Enforcement Operations Staff 

Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit 

Food Safety and Inspection Se1v ice 

United States Depa1tment of Agriculture 

Stop Code 3753, SB - Room 2148 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20250 

Office: (202) 418-8872 

Fax: (202) 245-5097 

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

(303)236-9800. 

Sincerely, 

ROBERT REEDER ="~signedbyROBERT 

Date: 2024.02.21 14:53:17 -0700' 

Dr. Robeli. Reeder 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Denver District Office 

Robert.Reeder@usda.gov 

cc: FO/QER 

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Est. File 

D. James, DDM 

J. Monteverde, DDM 

J. VanHook, DDM 

, FLS 

PHV 

SI 

s 

SEIAO 

OIEA 

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