Owner expresses confidence USDA will reach same conclusion

Boulder County officials have issued a clean bill of health to Boulder’s Black Cat Farm, which provides farm-to-table produce and meat to two popular Boulder restaurants, following a brief investigation prompted by a tip that raised questions about its meat processing.

A statement issued late Wednesday by Boulder County Department of Public Health spokeswoman Chana Goussetis stated, “Black Cat provided our Food Safety program staff with the necessary documentation this week to confirm that they are meeting local and state requirements for the preparation and storage of their meat products.

“They have been very cooperative and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them to ensure food is safe for all patrons. The USDA inquiry is still ongoing; we do not have knowledge of the details.”

The Boulder County Public Health investigation, launched Dec. 27, is now concluded, she added.

A spokesperson for the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Last week, when the inquiry into practices at Black Cat’s 35-acre property on Oxford Road became public, a spokeswoman for that agency said its practice was to neither confirm nor deny such investigations — even though Boulder County had confirmed the feds’ involvement.

It was one week ago that Boulder County disclosed that Black Cat Farm was under scrutiny based on a tip suggesting that it was not following correct procedures for slaughtering.