Money woes apparently have caused the shutdown of the Vineland Kosher Poultry plant in southern New Jersey, according to J Weekly.

A union official representing 160 workers at the plant told the Daily Journal newspaper that the factory halted production on 30 December.

Plant management did not return a reporter's phone calls.

Financial troubles are believed to be behind the closure. In October, the company warned the city it might lay off 50 workers, or 25 percent of its workforce, by the end of the year. Plant owners also had looked to sell the company. J Weekly reports that one rumour is the plant will shift to non-kosher poultry.

Vineland Kosher was founded in 1968 and produced millions of kosher chickens, ducks and turkeys annually.