Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced last week that his office has filed a lawsuit against Prestige Feed Products LLC (Prestige) for allegedly allowing excessive odors and causing air and noise pollution at its animal feed manufacturing plant in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
The lawsuit, filed last week Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court, comes after nearly 150 residents near the plant logged over 1,000 complaints about overpowering, foul odors emanating from the facility since June 2023. Many residents described the smell as a pungent, burnt cheese-like odor that made it difficult to enjoy their homes or outdoor spaces.
“Residents in the community surrounding Prestige should be able to enjoy their lives and homes without having to endure the foul odors coming from the company’s operations,” said Attorney General Raoul. “The company needs to address these odor issues and ensure that its operations comply with Illinois’ environmental laws. I will continue to protect all Illinois communities and hold companies accountable when violations of our environmental laws occur.”
The complaints, many from local residents, highlight a widespread issue caused by the plant’s operations, which involve dehydrating raw soy and cheese-based materials into animal feed ingredients. As a result, the plant has been emitting a strong, offensive odor that has affected the quality of life for nearby residents. In fact, some residents have been forced to keep windows closed, unable to enjoy outdoor activities due to the stench. The odors have even impacted local schools, with a daycare and preschool facility reporting that children had to be kept indoors on days when the smells were particularly strong.
In response to the complaints, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) conducted inspections of the facility in July 2023 and November 2024. During these visits, the IEPA confirmed the presence of burnt-cheese odors in areas surrounding the plant and off-site, with the facility still operating. Additionally, an odor assessment report from an environmental consulting firm hired by Prestige found elevated levels of Butyric Acid at all nine sampled sites. The National Institutes of Health identifies Butyric Acid as a substance known for its rancid, putrid odor, which is consistent with the complaints filed by residents.
The lawsuit, which stems from a referral by the IEPA, aims to hold Prestige accountable for failing to address the environmental issues that have caused significant disruptions for local residents. The company is accused of violating state environmental regulations regarding air quality and public health.
“Though Prestige Feed is a small facility, it is still required to comply with state environmental regulations,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings. “Illinois EPA referred this case to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to require action be taken by Prestige Feed to address ongoing odor complaints impacting local residents.”
The Attorney General encouraged residents to report environmental issues, including odor complaints, to his office at ej@ilag.gov.
Supervising Attorney Ellen O’Laughlin, Assistant Attorneys General Christina Scanlon and Jason Clark, and Senior Assistant Attorney General Nancy Tikalsky are handling the case for Raoul’s Environmental Bureau.
