Agriprocessors Could Lose Certification after Charges
Orthodox Union, the leading Jewish company who certifies kosher foods, is contemplating taking away Agriprocessors, Inc.'s kosher certification because the company is facing criminal charges for violating more than 9,000 child labor laws, according to The New York Times. Agriprocessors is the United State's largest kosher meatpacker and is based out of Iowa.
Rabbi Menachem Genack, who is in charge of kosher supervision for the Jewish authority in the nation, told The New York Times that the company had notified Agriprocessors of a deadline for the corporation to name a new chief executive; otherwise, Orthodox Union will suspend the certification and supervision of kosher food at the plants. With a new C.E.O., Rabbi Genack feels that the public will have a renewed confidence that laws were being followed.
The Critical Blow of Losing Kosher Certification and Criminal Charges
On May 12, 389 illegal immigrant workers were apprehended during a raid at one of Agriprocessors, Inc.'s plants in Postville, IA. Since then, the corporation is having trouble maintaining its operation, which only got harder as Iowa's attorney general charged the company with 9,311 criminal misdemeanors on September 9.
The charges alleged that Agriprocessors employed 32 workers under the age of 18, who worked dangerous jobs during night shifts which exposed them to hazardous chemicals, reported The New York Times. The owner, Aaron Rubashkin, and his son and former chief executive of the Postville operation, Sholom, were named as the defendants in the cases. Two human resource managers at the plant, Laura Althouse and Karina Freund, are also named in the criminal charges and were arrested on immigration harboring.
On top of all the criminal charges, Agriprocessors is dealing with what will happen if they lose their kosher certification of the Orthodox Union. There are other companies that give kosher certification; however, Orthodox Union is the most well known. The loss of the certification could mean a loss in the $80 million profit if customers are driven away with the negative publicity.
One of the certifiers at the plant does not plan on withdrawing, but Rabbi Menachem Weissmandl plans on removing his seal if Agriprocessors does not comply with some conditions. The corporation must follow particular procedures when it comes to slaughtering and packing the meat that follows Jewish dietary ritual laws. So far, Agriprocessors has hired James Martin, a former US attorney, to enforce labor and safety standards, as mandated by the Orthodox Union; however, despite firing Sholom, the company has yet to name a new chief executive.
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