Tyson Foods is cooperating in a federal antitrust probe of the chicken industry, a move that should spare the company criminal charges.
Tyson approached the U.S. Justice Department after receiving a subpoena related to the probe in April 2019, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company says it discovered after the probe that some of its employees were involved in price-fixing and made a full disclosure.
The Justice Department has a tradition of lenient treatment for companies that cooperate in antitrust investigations. The first company to come forward usually avoids criminal charges and often receives reduced civil fines.
The CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride, and executives from Claxton Poultry Farms, were indicted on charges of price-fixing earlier this month. The indictment charges that employees of major poultry processors checked with each other before and after striking deals with restaurant chains and other trade customers to supply chicken.
