Colorado Listeria Lawsuits Could Target Grocers, Auditor

An outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe blamed for the deaths of 29 people could be costly for grocery stores, a distributor and an auditing lab.

According to the Denver Post, Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo., does not have enough insurance to cover the estimated $100 million in damages that could result from the outbreak. The farm has been identified by federal officials as a source of the outbreak.

Attorneys say distributor Frontera Produce of Texas and PrimusLabs of California could also be liable.

PrimusLabs president Bob Stovicek says their standards were adequate. Frontera Produce declined to comment.