10-year-olds found to be working at McDonald’s in Kentucky

(CNN) – McDonald’s says it was “deeply troubling” to learn children as young as 10 years old were working in some Kentucky restaurants.

A labor department investigation into three franchises found 305 children worked more hours than legally permitted or performed tasks not allowed for young workers.

One company, Bauer Food, employed two 10-year-olds but did not pay them.

Investigators say they sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m.

One of those 10-year-olds was also allowed to operate a deep fryer, which is prohibited for workers under 16.

In a statement, McDonald’s said the reports “run afoul of the high expectation we have for the entire McDonald’s brand.”

The total fines for the three franchises was more than $212,000.