Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed a lawsuit against Prestige Feed Products, alleging the company's animal feed manufacturing plant in Mount Prospect, Illinois, has created significant environmental and quality of life issues for local residents.
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, stems from over 1,000 separate odor complaints logged by nearly 150 residents since June 2023. Complainants describe a pungent, overpowering stench of burnt cheese emanating from the facility.
Prestige Feed Products has announced plans to relocate its operations, potentially bringing an end to a contentious legal dispute with the village of Mount Prospect over persistent odor complaints.
Village Manager Michael Cassady revealed the development in an email to neighboring residents following a court hearing. The company's attorney suggested that the planned relocation would likely render most, if not all, claims in the current lawsuit moot.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) inspected the site in July 2023 and November 2024, confirming the presence of offensive odors. An odor assessment report identified high levels of Butyric Acid at nine sampled sites, a substance known for its penetrating and rancid smell.
"Residents in the community should be able to enjoy their lives and homes without having to endure the foul odors," Raoul stated. The complaints have been so severe that nearby schools, including a day care and preschool, have been forced to keep children indoors during peak odor periods.
Prestige Feed's facility uses equipment to dehydrate raw soy and cheese-based materials into animal feed ingredients. Despite being a small facility, it is still required to comply with state environmental regulations.
An agreement between Prestige, Mount Prospect, and the City of Des Plaines has already imposed operational restrictions:
- Random odor testing
- Limited operational hours (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
- Specific warmup and cooldown periods
IEPA Acting Director James Jennings emphasized the importance of environmental compliance: "Illinois EPA referred this case to require action to address ongoing odor complaints impacting local residents."
