Iowa Pizza Restaurant to Pay $99K Over Child Labor Law Violations

An Iowa pizza restaurant has agreed to pay $99,000 in fines after a Department of Labor investigation found the business assigned teenage employees to dangerous duties.

Investigators found Pizza Parlor and owner Michelle Drougas illegally employed 11 children.

Six children were employed to operate and clean a meat grinder and seven children drove motor vehicles on public roadways to deliver orders. These activities are prohibited by hazardous occupations orders under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

One child younger than 16 was employed to use an oven heated to between 500 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit to help prepare and cook pizza. Fourteen- and 15- year-olds may be employed in food preparation and limited cooking tasks, but they may not perform any baking activities. The employers also assigned children to work in violation of federal limits on hours.

The employers have made an initial payment of $33,294 and will pay the balance in installments through Sept. 30, 2025.

Source: Department of Labor