Tyson Foods is under investigation by the Department of Labor over child labor allegations

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FILE-Tyson Foods frozen chicken products stand in the refrigerated section of a store in Washington, D.C., on August 08, 2023 (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Tyson Foods is facing investigation over allegations it employs underage children at its processing plants.

The Houston Field Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is conducting an investigation into the poultry processing company after court documents in the Western District of Arkansas showed allegations of child labor at Tyson processing plants.

Court documents obtained KFSM-TV in Arkansas It found that applications for inspection permits were filed in September 2024, alleging that minors were employed at Tyson Foods Rogers and Tyson Foods Green Forest facilities in Arkansas.

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The review of the processing facilities began in June 2024 after receiving anonymous complaints by the Houston Field Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

The warrants were used to search for records of minors working at the plants and to gather information regarding employees of Tyson Foods or affiliates and contractors of Tyson Foods.

In the inspection application for the Tyson Food Rogers plant, a teacher at a school in Arkansas filed an anonymous tip with the Wage and Hour Division, telling the agency that one of her 14-year-old students had talked about working with her mother at the Tyson plant. in the summer.

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In another reference to the Tyson Foods Green Forest plant, KFSM-TV reported that a mother of a middle school student heard children between the ages of 11 and 13 talking about working the night shift at the Green Forest plant, and that those hours were between 11 p.m. 7 or 8 a.m.

The children were allegedly heard arguing about not being able to withdraw money from their paychecks using an ATM, KFSM-TV reported based on court documents.

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In July 2024, inspectors were assigned to conduct surveillance at the Tyson Foods Rogers and Tyson Foods Green Forest facilities and were found to have underage employees under the age of 16, and an inspector documented minors working in possibly hazardous conditions.

Tyson Foods released a statement to KFSM-TV in response to the allegations; The company told the news outlet in part that Tyson does not allow the employment of underage workers and that they do not engage in child labor.