Former BPI employee to sue national news broadcasting company - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

A former BPI employee will file a civil lawsuit following the controversy surrounding lean, finely textured beef-- or LFTB.

A Sioux City-based publishing company says former BPI Environmental Health and Safety Officer Bruce Smith will hold a press conference, on Tuesday, to detail the civil suit he'll file against a "national news broadcasting company", and other individuals involved.

The controversy, fueled by a derogatory, two-word term for LFTB, lead to the closure of BPI plants in Iowa, Kansas and Texas and layoffs at the South Sioux City, Nebraska, plant.

Iowa congressman Steve King says he want

"If there is a way to go through this in litigation and get to the bottom of this-- especially if it was a willful strategy that unfolded-- if that trail can be discovered through litigation then, by all means, go forward," Rep. Steve King, (R) Iowa said.

The USDA says LFTB is "safe and nutritious." But, King wants and make sure that L-F-T-B is the only option schools have for the "free and reduced school lunch program."

In March, the UDSA have schools the option to buy LFTB, or not. Only three states-- Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota-- have agreed to serve LFTB next school year.