Hearthside Food Solutions, a snack manufacturer backed by private equity, has agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle an investigation by Illinois authorities into allegations of child labor at its facilities.
The settlement comes as the company faces financial difficulties, having filed for bankruptcy recently. As part of the agreement, Hearthside will implement measures to improve reporting mechanisms for employees, such as establishing an email inbox and telephone hotlines dedicated to reporting incidents involving minors working at its Illinois locations. This step aims to address concerns raised during the investigation and ensure compliance with labor regulations.