Chicago judge orders animal feed plant to stop foul odours after complaints

A Chicago animal-feed plant, operated by A-F Acquisition LLC, has been ordered by a judge to halt operations causing foul odors after receiving hundreds of complaints from nearby residents. The facility, located at 2701 East 100th Street, has been processing a by-product of commercial edible oil into animal-feed ingredients for about a decade.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the city of Chicago brought legal action against the company, alleging excessive odors, unlawful air pollution, construction of a boiler without a required permit, and violations of operating permit conditions.

Residents have reported smelly emissions resembling rotten eggs, sewage, garbage, and decaying meat, which have disrupted daily activities and gatherings. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) has received complaints about the facility since the period when Agri-Fine Inc. operated it before A-F Acquisition LLC acquired it in 2016.

The Illinois EPA has been monitoring the site due to its potential for releasing air pollutants, having received odour complaints throughout the years when Agri-Fine Inc. ran the plant.

The court issued a temporary restraining order on October 14, 2026, halting odour-causing activities at the facility until January 14, 2027. The company must address the odour problems or bring its operations into compliance with environmental laws by then. Earlier inspections by Illinois EPA inspectors revealed overpowering odours in residential areas, causing residents to keep their windows shut due to nausea and difficulty breathing.

Nearby schools and a local church have also experienced problems linked to the odours, with gatherings being interrupted by the unpleasant smells.

The Illinois EPA has encouraged residents to keep incident logs in case of persistent odours, as these records can support ongoing enforcement efforts. The case began in August 2026 when the Attorney General sued A-F Acquisition LLC, with allegations of excessive odours, unlawful air pollution, improper construction of a boiler, and violations of operating permit conditions.

Illinois EPA inspectors have found strong smells during inspections, leading to multiple violation notices from the agency. The facility's wastewater pretreatment system also faced violations in 2026.