ROSEHILL, NC – The US Department of Labor cited House of Raeford, a North Carolina poultry processor for child labor violations, according to local news reports.

The company agreed to pay $12,400 in fines after 16 and 17 year olds were found working in the deboning area of the company’s Teachey, NC, facility. The teenagers were required to use an electric knife, which violates federal work standards for workers under age 18.

Privately owned House of Raeford processes chickens and turkeys in eight plants in North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana.