Banana workers sue multinationals

Around 4,000 ex-banana plantation workers in Nicaragua are suing several transnational companies for damages, claiming that long-term exposure to pesticides has caused infertility and other illnesses.

The lawsuit is being filed by the association of current and former banana workers in Nicaragua against Shell Oil Company, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Standard Fruit Company, Dole Food Corporation Inc, Chiquita Brands International, Del Monte Foods and Dow Chemical.