"Kids Found to Be Working Overnight Shifts at Minnesota Meat Processing Plant", 20 March 2023

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has asked a district court for a temporary restraining order and injunction against Tony Downs Food Company, a meat processing company in Madelia, following allegations that the business violated child labor laws.

In a 16-page complaint, the DLI requested that the court file an order declaring that Tony Downs violated the Child Labor Standards Act (CLSA), legally enjoin the company from violating the CLSA in the future, and require Tony Downs to take necessary steps to redress current violations.

After receiving a complaint that there were children working at the meat processing company, the DLI initiated an investigation into the allegations... [T]he state agency found that there were at least eight children working overnight shifts and engaging in hazardous work at the company, including operating large machinery such as meat grinders, ovens and forklifts. The agency was also informed that Tony Downs was aware that they were illegally employing minors.

Though the children were working under assumed names... [s]chool officials informed the agency that the students struggled with school and had fallen asleep or been tired during class. Some had missed school or dropped out of school altogether...

Food Safety News has reported that since late 2022, more than a dozen meatpacking companies have been investigated for child labor violations...

In response to [a] federal crackdown on child labor violations, states including Arkansas, Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Wisconsin have introduced legislation that would loosen child labor laws and encourage companies to hire children in hazardous workplaces...