The Orthodox Union (OU) has threatened to withdraw its kosher certification on meat processed at the Agriprocessors meat packing plant in Iowa unless it hires a new chief executive.

 

The new demand came after the Iowa state attorney general charged owner Aaron Rubashkin and his son Sholom, the former chief executive of the Postville plant, with 9,311 criminal misdemeanor charges relating to child labor laws.

 

The plant was accused of employing 32 workers under the legal age of 18, many of whom were allegedly exposed to dangerous chemicals on the night shift. The company has come under fire repeatedly in the wake of a raid on the plant by Immigration authorities on May 12, in which 389 illegal immigrants working on the premises were detained.

 

Rabbi Menachem Genack, director of kosher certification for the OU, a nationwide network of synagogues, rabbis and Jewish social services groups said, "We want to see a new face, somebody independent who can give new direction to the company."

 

A second, Chassidic kosher supervision organization said it would maintain its certification at the plant. Rabbi Menachem Weissmandl, director of the second kosher supervision firm, said he would not withdraw his certification unless the company fails to comply with the strict kosher standards set forth by Jewish law.

 

The meat packing firm, one of the largest in the United States had already complied with a prior demand by the O.U. to raise its quality controls by hiring former US Attorney James Martin as a compliance officer. Martin, who served in the Midwestern state of Missouri, now works as a compliance officer to enforce labor and safety standards.