By Nandita Bose
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Labor has opened an investigation against Hearthside Food Solutions, a U.S. food contractor that makes and packages products for well-known snack and cereal brands, for reportedly employing underage workers and violating child labor laws, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
The company has come under scrutiny after a New York Times investigation showed Hearthside’s factories employed underage workers making Chewy granola bars and bags of Lucky Charms and Cheetos, which the company would later ship around the country.
“We can confirm that we have opened an investigation,” a spokesman for the Department of Labor told Reuters.
It was not clear whether the probe will lead to criminal charges, fines or other penalties.
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