An FSIS spokesman told a St. Louis newspaper that Fruitland was closed until it takes corrective actions to address humane handling violations.
The suspension stems from a “knock box” incident that occurred at 8:15 a.m. on July 29, 2015, when a Fruitland manager took three shots, rather than one, to bring down an animal, which is viewed as an incident of needless suffering. FSIS ordered the suspension the same day.
FSIS previously instituted a suspension of the facility in December 2014 for a similar incident.
Dr. Patricia Whisnant, the veterinarian who owns and operates Rain Crow Ranch with her husband Mark and other family members, said a restructure and remodel will occur during the short-term shutdown. Rain Crow Ranch may move to an alternative slaughter facility until the changes can be made, she said.
Fruitland America Meat last made news in June 2014 when it recalled two tons of fresh beef because the morsel root ganglia, which are branches of the nervous system in the vertebral column, were not removed. They are considered specified risk materials (SRMs) and must be cut out on cattle 30 months of age or older. SPMs contain the tissues most at risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease.
On its website, Rain Crow Ranch states that the Fruitland facility processes 250 head of cattle a week. Whisnant acknowledges that the facility has had a “very contentious relationship” with FSIS.
No illnesses were associated with either last year’s recall nor the current shutdown.
After it was acquired by Rain Crow, the Jackson facility underwent an animal-friendly remodel which, according Rain Crow, was done by “Dr. Temple Grandin’s team.” Grandin is a well-known professor of animal science at Colorado State University.
The ranch and the slaughter facility are located about two hours away from each other.
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from Food Safety News » Food Recalls http://ift.tt/1JayfML
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