State agency alleges eight minors illegally employed by Minnesota meatpacker, seeks court injunction

A southern Minnesota meat-processing facility is illegally employing as many as eight teenagers in violation of state labor laws, according to a court filing in Watonwan County.

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry filed a request on Wednesday for a temporary restraining order and injunction against Mankato-based Tony Downs Food Co., alleging the packaged meat company's facility in Madelia has been employing teenagers to work overnight shifts involving meat grinders and toxic chemicals.

The filing, which comes after a January search of the Madelia facility, claims the company, which processes meat and poultry, as recently as Feb. 8 employed workers between the ages of 14 and 17. The government says the company hired one employee when the minor was only 13 years old.

https://www.startribune.com/state-agency-alleges-8-minors-illegally-employed-by-minnesota-meatpacker-seeks-court-injunction/600259216/