Eleven plaintiffs have sued Hebrew National, accusing the Michigan-based hot dog maker of not using kosher beef and processing equipment, court documents say.

The lawsuit, filed in May, said the company violated several consumer fraud laws by failing to following procedures necessary to produce kosher meats, CNN reported Wednesday.

Hebrew National's "deceptive and wrongful conduct is designed to mislead and deceive consumer into purchasing its Hebrew National products, at premium prices, by labeling and marketing it as 100 percent kosher," the suit says.

The lawsuit said employees at AER Services Inc., which provides kosher meat processing and inspection services to Hebrew National, were ignored by supervisors when they warned certain practices were rendering the meat not kosher.

"The persons making the complaints were terminated or otherwise threatened with adverse retaliation, such as job transfers," the complaint said.

A written statement from Teresa A. Paulsen, vice president of communications and external relations for ConAgra Foods, Hebrew National's parent company, said the lawsuit was without merit.

"Hebrew National's kosher status is certified by a well-recognized and authorized third party. There is close rabbinical supervision of the food preparation process and packaging equipment," she said in a statement. UPI