DES MOINES - State labor officials found 57 cases of "egregious" child labor violations at the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville after an investigation that lasted months.

The kosher plant was targeted by federal immigration officials in May and nearly 400 workers were detained. The raid was the largest of its kind in U.S. history.

Now the Iowa Labor Commissioner's Office, the agency that enforces state labor laws, said officials will turn over findings to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller for possible legal action.

"The investigation brings to light egregious violations of virtually every aspect of Iowa's child labor laws," Labor Commissioner Dave Neil said in a statement Tuesday. "It is my recommendation that the Attorney General's Office prosecute these violations to the fullest extent of the law."

A news release put out by state officials alleges Agriprocessors violated rules that prohibit minors from working in certain occupations, failed to obtain work permits and exceeded allowable work hours for minors. Other alleged violations include exposing minors to hazardous chemicals and allowing them to work with prohibited tools.

Each of the 57 cases developed against Agriprocessors has multiple child labor violations in each case, according to the statement.

State labor officials say a second portion of the investigation is pending and could lead to additional cases. Records of the investigation were not released, spokeswoman Kerry Koonce said. She cited an exception to Iowa's open records law that allows records for pending investigations to remain confidential.

Chaim Abrahams, a spokesman for Agriprocessors, said in a written statement the company has a policy of not hiring underage workers and fired four employees in 2007 when it became aware of their ages.

He said the company was "at a loss" to understand the labor commissioner's statement and referral of alleged child labor violations to the attorney general.

Abrahams said Iowa labor officials have not responded to requests for the names of any underage workers.

"The company asks the public to keep an open mind and wait for the evidence before making any judgments about these, or any other, allegations," he added.

Eric Tabor, the Iowa Attorney General's chief of staff, confirmed the office would serve as prosecutor in the case. He said officials are working with the Iowa Division of Labor and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

"We will enforce Iowa criminal law if there have been violations of the law," Tabor said. But he noted "any potential criminal charge is merely an accusation and any potential defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty."

United Food and Commercial Workers, which has tried unsuccessfully to organize employees at Agriprocessors, has heard of children as young as 13 working in the plant, spokesman Scott Fortman said.

Fortman added the union went to the state several months ago when its representatives heard underage children were working at the plant. He said even under the best conditions, meatpacking is one of the most demanding and dangerous jobs.

"To have kids in that plant … it's morally reprehensible," Fortman said.

Contact Charlotte Eby at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.