Grupo Modelo confirmed in a statement to Food Engineering that seven employees at Cervecería Modelo in Mexico City died in an accident early on the morning of April 7. The employees were in a confined area in a tank in which cleaning and upkeep work were being done. Grupo Modelo says it will carry out an investigation into the cause of the accident, and that production has not been affected. The accident comes as brewery giant AB InBev tries to finalize a purchase deal for the 50 percent of Grupo Modelo it does not already own. A class action lawsuit filed March 22 in a California federal court alleges the deal would end aggressive competition that has led to lower prices and increased innovation in the US beer market.