Brazil prosecutors sue meatpacker MBRF over dozens of employees' miscarriages

By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Brazilian labor prosecutors accuse meatpacker MBRF MBRF3.SA of failing to protect pregnant employees in a lawsuit citing dozens of miscarriages allegedly linked to risk factors such as excessive noise on its production lines, court documents show.

Investigators looking into MBRF's Lucas do Rio Verde plant in Mato Grosso state found that 77 employees at the plant suffered miscarriages between 2019 and 2025 and 67 employees' pregnancies were put at risk due to factors relating to the plant over the same period, according to the court documents seen by Reuters.

The labor department of Brazil's federal prosecutors' office filed the lawsuit after two hearings failed to compel MBRF to move pregnant workers to quieter parts of the meat processing facility.

A spokesperson for MBRF said in an emailed response to Reuters queries that it does not recognize the data cited by prosecutors in the suit, adding that it has yet to present its defense before the court.

The Lucas do Rio Verde facility attracted headlines when a Venezuelan employee who was eight months pregnant with twins suffered a miscarriage while at the plant in April 2024. She later sued MBRF and was awarded damages in a suit now cited as precedent for prosecutors who accuse the firm of "systematic neglect" toward pregnant workers.

MBRF declined to comment on that suit, which is partly under seal.

Federal prosecutors are seeking 20 million reais ($3.89 million) in damages in the latest case and the immediate removal of pregnant workers from hazardous areas.

In addition to dozens of miscarriages between 2019 and 2025, they cite 113 cases of premature births and 71 medical leave episodes "related to or aggravated by" noise stress at the Lucas do Rio Verde facility.

Prosecutors cited medical research suggesting high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and fetal growth failure can be associated with excessively noisy environments.

MBRF said it strictly follows Brazilian law and reiterated its commitment to the health and safety of its employees.

The maximum noise limit allowed under Brazilian labor regulations is 80 decibels. Pregnant workers at the plant were exposed to noise levels up to 93 decibels in some areas, prosecutors claim.

The plant currently employs 4,800 people, including about 74 pregnant women, the prosecutors said and MBRF confirmed that.

The company said it provides and guarantees use of noise protection equipment certified by Brazil's Labor Ministry, without elaborating.

In similar investigations last year, labor prosecutors reached an agreement with another meatpacking company and got a court order against another meatpacker, forcing them to remove pregnant workers from noisy parts of their plants.

MBRF said it has a program to support pregnant employees that includes medical assistance and job adjustments according to the stage of pregnancy, which it said has benefited more than 13,000 female employees since 2017.

($1 = 5.15 reais)