Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp., the maker of Farmland bacon and Farmer John sausages, will pay a $2 million penalty after a Minnesota investigation allegedly found the company employed minors in dangerous jobs at its St. James facility.
The fine, the largest in Minnesota’s history for a child labor enforcement case, comes after the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) says it uncovered a troubling pattern of illegal practices between 2021 and 2023.
“It is unacceptable for a company to employ minor children to perform hazardous work late at night,” DLI Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach said in a press release. “This resolution sends a strong message to employers that child labor violations will not be tolerated in Minnesota.”
According to DLI, its investigation found that 11 minors, some as young as 14, worked for Smithfield. They were assigned hazardous tasks like operating power-driven machinery, working near dangerous chemicals, and using motorized pallet jacks—jobs explicitly prohibited for minors under state law, DLI said. On top of that, DLI said nine of the minors worked late-night shifts, violating state regulations that limit work hours for children.
Smithfield denies intentional wrongdoing
Smithfield, which is owned by Chinese meat giant WH Group Ltd., denied knowingly hiring minors.
The company argued that the alleged underage workers used false identification to get hired and that its federal employment verification systems aren’t foolproof against identity theft or document fraud.
“Individuals under the age of 18 have no place working in meatpacking or processing facilities,” the company said in a statement. While Smithfield agreed to settle “to avoid the distraction of prolonged litigation,” it maintained that it requires its contractors and staffing agencies to follow strict child labor rules.
“We have not admitted liability as part of this settlement,” the company added.
Child labor in the spotlight
Smithfield’s settlement is just the latest in a series of high-profile cases shining a light on child labor in the meatpacking industry.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor penalized a sanitation contractor for employing minors in hazardous roles at facilities across eight states, including Minnesota. Additionally, DLI found in a 2023 investigation that Tony Downs Food hired at least eight children between the ages of 14 and 17 to operate meat-processing equipment.
Minnesota lawmakers have taken notice, passing reforms in 2024 that added anti-retaliation protections and penalties for employers who hire minors for hazardous work.
Under the consent order, Smithfield must do more than just pay a fine; the company has agreed to conduct industry outreach to raise awareness about child labor laws, require contractors and staffing agencies to adhere to strict compliance standards, and implement additional measures to prevent future violations.
DLI officials hope the penalty will serve as a wake-up call to other employers. “Protecting children’s safety and well-being isn’t optional,” Commissioner Blissenbach said.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
