Asbestos Exposure at Del Monte Corporation
Del Monte Corporation processes and distributes foods, particularly canned goods. The company never made asbestos products, but it did use them in machinery and buildings. Records document various cases of asbestos exposure at different Del Monte facilities, including one in San Jose, California.
Companies like Del Monte often used asbestos insulation in boilers, machinery and facility buildings. As asbestos-containing materials become worn, small fibers can become airborne. Once asbestos becomes airborne, it poses health hazards. People who inhale or ingest the fibers risk developing mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.
Del Monte started as the California Fruit Canners Association in 1899. By 1916, the company incorporated as the California Packing Corporation (Calpak). By 1909, Calpak operated the world’s largest fruit and vegetable cannery. In 1967, Calpak officially changed its name to Del Monte Corporation.
Del Monte Corporation Quick Facts
- Del Monte has been in business for more than 130 years. It sells fresh and canned fruits and vegetables in more than 80 countries.
- Del Monte never manufactured asbestos products, but it used them in its facilities. Like other food processing companies, Del Monte equipment contained asbestos gaskets and packing. The company also used building materials made with asbestos, like flooring, roofing and insulation products.
- Some Del Monte facilities are listed on approved site lists for various asbestos bankruptcy trusts. More than 25 Del Monte locations are confirmed to have asbestos-containing materials from various manufacturers.
High-Risk Occupations at Del Monte Corporation
Many different Del Monte workers were at risk of asbestos exposure, which can lead to mesothelioma. Some occupations most at risk include those who maintained the company’s machinery. People who operated these machines were also at risk of exposure as the machines began to wear out.
Some at-risk occupations from asbestos at Del Monte facilities include:
- Boiler repairmen
- Brick masons
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Electrical engineers
- Electricians
- Factory workers
- General laborers
- HVAC workers
- Industrial workers
- Insulators
- Machine operators
- Machinists
- Maintenance workers
- Mechanics
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Steamfitters
- Warehouse workers
- Welders
Family members of Del Monte workers may also have faced exposure. Employees may have unknowingly brought asbestos fibers home, leading to secondary exposure risks for anyone in the household.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
Asbestos Products Used at Del Monte Corporation
Del Monte didn’t make asbestos products, but like many other companies, it did use them. Food processing and canning often require high temperatures to ensure consumer safety. Companies often used asbestos products to help protect people and equipment from this heat.
Some asbestos products Del Monte may have used include:
- Brakes on the assembly line
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Pipes
- Pumps
- Roofing fill
- Wallboard
It’s important to note that Del Monte facilities may have used other types of asbestos products. A mesothelioma lawyer can help identify which specific products may have led to exposure. They have access to extensive resources for researching and building cases.
Compensation for Del Monte Corporation Employees With Mesothelioma
Del Monte employees exposed to asbestos who later developed mesothelioma may be eligible for compensation. This compensation can help cover medical expenses, lost income and more. Mesothelioma patients may have different compensation options available.
For example, asbestos victims may file Del Monte mesothelioma lawsuits. Successful cases end with a jury verdict or a settlement. In other cases, clients may file against an asbestos bankruptcy trust fund. These are established by asbestos companies to help compensate victims. An experienced asbestos attorney will be able to find the best options for your case.
“Yeah, we wrapped pipe out there… [with] this asbestos wrapping… Like in November after cannery season close down we clean up, and all the pipe, we repair them… take the old wrapping off, put new wrapping on.”
Seasonal Cannery Worker
Del Monte, Oakland, CA
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Del Monte Corporation has not filed for bankruptcy due to asbestos liabilities, so it does not have an asbestos trust fund. However, Del Monte used many products made by companies with asbestos trust funds. People exposed to asbestos from these products in a Del Monte facility may be eligible to file claims.
Many Del Monte locations have been identified as known asbestos exposure sites by bankrupt asbestos companies that established trust funds. Two of the top locations are Modesto and Oakland, California.
Del Monte: Modesto, CA
| Asbestos Company Name | Eligibility Start Date | Eligibility End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Babcock & Wilcox | 6/1/1968 | 12/31/1982 |
| Eagle-Picher | ||
| Plant Insulation | 1/1/1964 | 12/31/1980 |
| Western MacArthur | 1/1/1964 | 12/31/1980 |
Del Monte: Oakland, CA
| Asbestos Company Name | Eligibility Start Date | Eligibility End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle-Picher | ||
| Owens Corning | 1/1/1965 | 12/31/1982 |
| Plant Insulation | 6/3/1941 | 12/31/1954 |
| Western MacArthur | 1/1/1947 | 12/31/1989 |
Other Del Monte facilities identified by asbestos bankruptcy trust funds include the following locations in California: Berkeley, Emeryville, Kingsburg, Manteca, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, Stockton and Yuba City.
Outside California, locations include:
- Honolulu, HI
- Burley, ID
- Franklin, ID
- Mendota, IL
- Rochelle, IL
- Lawrence, KS
- Topeka, KS
- Sleepy Eye, MN
- Swedesboro, NJ
- Hood River, OR
- Crystal City, TX
- Smithfield, UT
- Emeryville, VA
- Arlington, WI
- Green Lake, WI
- Markesan, WI
