In December 2024 Hearthside Food Solutions entered a $4.5 million agreement with the Illinois Attorney General and Illinois Department of Labor to settle claims that underage workers were employed at its Illinois plants. The probe, prompted by a New York Times article, covered individuals under 16 working between March 1, 2020 and December 4, 2024. Hearthside denied liability, said the payment avoids further litigation, noted it is in Chapter 11 restructuring, and reported reducing use of staffing agencies and tightening labor practices.