LFTB maker sues ABC News over 'pink slime'

The South Dakota-based firm is seeking $1.2 billion in damages for "false and misleading and defamatory" statements against lean, finely textured beef earlier this year.

Compiled by staff

Published: Sep 13, 2012

Beef Products Inc. sued ABC News, Inc. for defamation Thursday over its coverage of a meat product that critics dub "pink slime," claiming the network misled consumers into believing it is unhealthy and unsafe.

The lawsuit filed in a South Dakota state court also names several individuals as defendants, including ABC news anchor Diane Sawyer and the Departure of Agriculture microbiologist who coined the term "pink slime."

BPI Attorney Dan Webb said the reports had "an enormous impact" on the company, forcing it to close three of its four U.S. plants and lay off more than 650 workers. Webb said the network also published a list of chain grocery stores that had stopped selling the product, and that this pressured others to end their business relationship with BPI.

Craig Letch, BPI's director of food-quality assurance, said the company lost 80 percent of its business in 28 days. Some of the customers have returned, he said, but BPI still doesn't have the customer base that would allow it to
rehire former employees.

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