United States Department of Agriculture

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service

Office of Field Operations 

Jackson District Office 

713 S Pear Orchard Rd. 

Plaza 2, Suite 402

Ridgeland, MS 39157

August 28, 2023

Trackside Butcher Shoppe ELECTRONIC MAIL on August 28, 2023 

Est. Number: M45607 FEDEX TRACKING 7732 2639 8203 

123 Commerce Parkway

Campbellsburg, KY 40011 

office@tracksidebutchershoppe.com

502-532-3015

Attention: John Edwards, Owner

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION

This letter serves as official notification by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) 

of our decision to withhold the federal marks of inspection and suspend the assignment of 

Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) at Trackside Butcher Shoppe, Est. M45607, located 

at 123 Commerce Parkway, Campbellsburg, KY 40011. This letter follows verbal 

notification of the suspension action, provided by Dr. Larry Davis, DM, to John Edwards, 

Owner at approximately 10:45AM on August 28, 2023. This action includes your 

Slaughter Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) processes employed at your 

establishment.

The decision to institute this enforcement action is in accordance with Title 9 of the Code 

of Federal Regulations (CFR), Rules of Practice 500.3(b), based on the determination that 

your establishment did not handle or slaughter animals humanely. The evidence 

demonstrates failure to comply with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 

603), the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), and the 

regulatory requirements (9 CFR Part 313). 

Background/Authority

The FMIA (21 USC 601 et seq.) provides it is essential to the public interest that the health 

and welfare of consumers be protected, by assuring meat products distributed to them are 

wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, and labeled. The Act gives FSIS the 

authority, as designated by the Secretary of Agriculture, to prescribe rules and regulations 

describing sanitation requirements for inspected establishments and provide FSIS program 

personnel the authority to refuse to allow meat/meat food products to be marked, labeled, 

stamped, or tagged as inspected and passed, to prevent the entry of adulterated products 

into commerce. Furthermore, the FMIA provides FSIS the authority to appoint inspectors 

to examine and inspect the method by which livestock are slaughtered and handled at 

slaughtering establishments.

The HMSA provides that Congress finds that the use of humane methods in the slaughter 

of livestock prevents needless suffering; results in safer and better working conditions for 

persons engaged in the slaughtering industry; brings about improvement of products and 

economies in slaughtering operations; and produces other benefits for producers, 

processors, and consumers which tend to expedite an orderly flow of livestock and 

livestock products in interstate and foreign commerce. It is therefore declared to be the

1 
John Edwards, Owner

Trackside Butcher Shoppe, Est. M45607

Notice of Suspension 

August 28, 2023

2

policy of the United States that the slaughtering of livestock and the handling of livestock in connection 

with slaughter shall be carried out only by humane methods. 

Under the authority of the Acts, FSIS has prescribed rules and regulations required for establishments 

slaughtering and handling livestock, as required by 9 CFR Part 313. FSIS has also developed the Rules of 

Practice regarding administrative enforcement, 9 CFR Part 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, and for filing a complaint to withdraw a grant of inspection. 

Specifically, 9 CFR 500.3(b) states that FSIS may impose a suspension without providing prior notification 

due to handling or slaughtering of animals inhumanely.

Findings/Basis for Action

On August 28, 2023, at 9:10AM, while performing the Humane Handling task at Trackside Butcher 

Shoppe, Est. M45607 in Campbellsburg, KY, the CSI observed a 2300-pound beef bull enter the knock 

box, and the establishment stun operator was unable to properly restrain the animal. Your establishment’s 

stun operator made four stun attempts with a .22 mag rifle, which contacted the animal, but were 

ineffective, as evidenced by the animal remained standing. The establishment owner, Chris Wright was 

notified. Mr. Wright immediately used a 223-caliber rifle to render the animal insensible on the fifth stun 

attempt, a security knock was applied, and the animal remained insensible thereafter. Mr. Wright was 

notified of the non-compliance and of the regulatory control action. The CSI placed US Rejected tag 

number B-45710449, rejecting the knock box. 

On September 9, 2004, FSIS published "Humane Handling and Slaughter Requirements and the Merits of

a Systematic Approach to Meet Such Requirements" in the Federal Register (69 FR 54625). On 

September 24, 2020, FSIS released FSIS Directive 6900.2 Revision 3, entitled, "Humane Handling and 

Slaughter of Livestock." Additionally, on October 23, 2013, FSIS introduced new guidance, titled "FSIS 

Compliance Guide for a Systematic Approach to the Humane Handling of Livestock." Within the

guidance material is information intended to better ensure the humane treatment of livestock presented for 

slaughter. The guidance material provides a set of practices designed to minimize excitement, discomfort, 

and accidental injury regarding the humane handling of livestock to include the four components of a 

robust systematic approach to humane handling. 

When an establishment maintains a robust humane handling program, FSIS can exercise regulatory 

discretion when an inhumane handling or slaughter incident is observed. Although your establishment has 

previously developed and implemented a systematic approach to humane handling that was considered 

robust, you have failed to effectively implement your program accordingly. Your establishment had a robust 

systematic approach to humane handling as of the latest DVMS visit on May 16, 2023, but failed to 

implement its program at the time of this failure, therefore, the Jackson District Office initiated a Notice of 

Suspension in lieu of offering regulatory discretion. 

Summary and Conclusion

Provisions of the FMIA outline FSIS’ ability to refuse to render inspection and indefinitely withdraw 

inspection from an establishment, provided the establishment is afforded the right to an administrative 

hearing, when conditions exist where the slaughter and/or handling of livestock was not by a method in 

accordance with the Act(s). Evidence demonstrates your failure to meet regulatory requirements addressed 

in 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) and 9 CFR 313.16(a)(3), constituting a violation of the humane slaughter 

requirements, and supporting the conclusion that your handling of livestock violated the provisions of the 

FMIA and HMSA.
John Edwards, Owner

Trackside Butcher Shoppe, Est. M45607

Notice of Suspension 

August 28, 2023

3

Please provide a written response, inclusive of written corrective action and preventative measures, by 

addressing the following:

• Evaluate and identify the nature, cause of the incident.

• Describe the specific actions taken to eliminate the cause of the incident and prevent future 

recurrences.

• Describe specific monitoring activities planned to ensure future compliance.

• Provide any supporting documentation and records maintained and/or associated with the 

proposed corrective actions and preventative measures. 

A determination of further administrative action will be made upon receipt and review of your submitted 

corrective actions and preventative measures. You are reminded that, as an operator of a federally 

inspected establishment, you are expected to comply with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate 

corrective actions to prevent the production of or adulterated products at your establishment. Please be 

advised that your failure to respond adequately to these issues may result in our initiating action to 

withdraw inspection from your establishment. 

Appeal and Hearing Rights

You have the right to appeal this matter and can do so by contacting:

Melissa Moore

Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations 

Office of Field Operations

United States Department of Agriculture 

1400 Independence Avenue 

Room 3160, South Building 

Washington, D. C. 20250 

Mobile: (202) 450-0330

melissa.moore1@usda.gov

Pursuant to 9 CFR 500.5(d), you may also request a hearing regarding this determination. Should you 

request a hearing, FSIS will file a complaint that will include a request for an expedited hearing. If you 

wish to request a hearing regarding this determination, please contact: 

Scott C. Safian, Director 

Enforcement Operations Staff (EOS)

Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit (OIEA) 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Stop Code 3753, SB - Room 2148 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20250

Telephone: (202) 418-8872

Facsimile: (202) 245-5097

E-mail: AEBCorrespondence@usda.gov

John Edwards, Owner

Trackside Butcher Shoppe, Est. M45607

Notice of Suspension 

August 28, 2023

5

Cc: Ms. Melissa Moore, EARO

Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator 

Mr. Larry Hortert, OIEA Regional Director 

Dr. Larry Davis, DM

Dr. Kermit Harvey, DDM 

Ms. Cheryl Henry, DDM 

Dr. Erin Moses, DDM

 SEIAO 

DCS 

 DVMS 

CSI at Est. Number 45607 

FO/Quarterly Reports

(b) (6) (b) (6) (b) (6) (b) (6) (b) (6)