Meat packing giant BPI has filed a lawsuit against broadcaster ABC, three of its reporters, and others for “knowingly and intentionally publishing false and disparaging statements regarding BPI and its product, lean finely textured beef (LFTB).” This news release from BPI says the network and others launched a concerted disinformation campaign against the meat packer, costing the company money and 700 workers their jobs:

“For more than 30 years, our family has built and operated companies that are committed to providing consumers with wholesome, safe and nutritious lean beef. We’ve created thousands of good jobs for Americans and our lean finely textured beef has made the leaner ground beef that consumers desire more affordable,” said Eldon Roth, founder and CEO of BPI. “The blatantly false and disparaging statements made about our lean beef have done more than hurt my family and our companies; they have jeopardized the future of our employees and their families.”

In their complaint, filed Thursday in Circuit Court in Union County, South Dakota, BPI alleges that ABC and the individuals named in the suit knowingly made false, defamatory and disparaging statements regarding BPI and LFTB during a disinformation campaign this spring. These statements were made even after BPI and others sent ABC factual information about LFTB, including conclusions from USDA, FDA, food safety organizations and numerous beef industry experts that LFTB is a safe, nutritious lean beef. As a result of the disinformation campaign, BPI sales declined from approximately five million pounds of LFTB per week to less than two million pounds per week, three BPI facilities closed and more than 700 employees lost their jobs.

The suit is asking for more than $1 billion in compensatory and statutory damages, plus punitive damages. You can read BPI’s charges at www.beefisbeef.com.