Downers Grove-based Hearthside, under investigation for alleged child labor, files for bankruptcy

Downers Grove-based Hearthside Food Solutions, currently under investigation for alleged child labor violations, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas, citing a restructuring plan to shed nearly $2 billion in debt and secure $200 million in new capital. Despite being named in a New York Times investigation, the company denies knowingly employing children and has strengthened labor practices, reducing reliance on staffing agencies. The U.S. Department of Labor’s investigation into Hearthside is ongoing, with the company operating 28 facilities and employing over 12,000 workers, including 10 production facilities in Illinois.

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