CBS’s forthcoming, “Lord of the Flies”-inspired “Kid Nation” reality television show has received plenty of attention… just not the flattering kind.

“Kid Nation” is set to premiere on Sept. 19 and show how 40 children, ages between 8 and 15, were able to make ends meet in a deserted New Mexico town, without adult support.

The children did everything on their own: hauling water, cooking food, washing, building, fixing etc. Equally, if not even more importantly, the children had the task to make up their own rules within the community.

The show’s producers assured the public, as soon as they came under heavy criticism for potentially overworking the kids, that adults were present throughout the 40 days spent in the desert: the cameramen, a doctor, a child psychologist, crewmembers etc.

Interaction between the children and these adults was nevertheless reduced to a minimum. The kids also had little or no contact whatsoever with their parents throughout those 6 and a half weeks.

CBS has been under relentless fire though for the children’s treatment. One of the children’s mothers filed a complaint against the show’s producers in June, accusing them of mistreating her offspring. Filming wrapped up in early May.

New Mexico state officials are currently investigating whether keeping the show’s juvenile protagonists in front of cameras 14 hours a day violates child labor laws – and to determine whether the work they performed was unsafe.

There were several accidents in that 40-day period. Several children accidentally drank bleach from a soda can; one girl was burned with hot oil as she cooked in the kitchen (and her mother is now claiming that she did not receive medical attention).

CBS is defending its producers, obviously, and claims there was no mistreatment of the children. Interestingly enough, before filming started, all participating children and their parents signed a contract that specified what the project consisted of.

CBS spokesperson Chris Ender has stated that the ongoing controversy will not delay the show’s premiere. “There's no change in the show's status,” Ender said.

CBS insists, as quoted by Reuters: “The series was filmed responsibly and within all applicable laws in the state of New Mexico at the time of the production.

“What was extraordinary about “Kid Nation” was the behind-the-scenes support structure,” the network added, “which included on-site paramedics, a pediatrician, an animal-safety expert and a child psychologist, not to mention a roster of producers assigned to monitor the kids' behavior.”

In another statement, CBS said: “We are confident that the true story will be told in the weeks ahead through the episodes on the screen and the voices of the kids who participated - the overwhelming majority of whom had a positive experience.”