Justice Dept. Probes Meat Giants

June 8, 2020
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the country’s four biggest meat processors for antitrust violations.

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the country’s four biggest meat processors for antitrust violations, according to a report in Bloomberg News.

The department’s antitrust division has issued “civil investigative demands,” the equivalent of subpoenas, to Tyson Foods, JBS SA, Cargill Foods and National Beef Inc. The four companies collectively control some 80% of the U.S. beef market.

The coronavirus pandemic and consequent meat plant closures have highlighted the concentration in the American meat processing industry. Last month, a group of attorneys general from several states wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr complaining that cattle growers are being squeezed with low prices, while consumers have to pay higher prices at retail. Bloomberg reports that the U.S. Justice Department is communicating with several state attorneys general about coordinated action.

The Justice Department’s probe follows criminal charges of price-fixing against the CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride, which is majority-owned by JBS, and others.

Sponsored Recommendations

Refrigerated transport services you can count on

Ensure product quality from origin to final destination with refrigerated shipping solutions from Schneider.

4 shipping challenges that a dedicated carrier can solve

Navigating the logistics industry is challenging. Find out how a dedicated transportation solution can solve some of the most common shipping challenges.

Dedicated lightweight solution maximizes bottled water payload

A leading bottled water company needed a carrier to transport water from 29 plants to retailers. The challenge? Handling over 46,000 pounds. Read the study.

Recipe for successful growth: Schneider’s dedicated fleet services helps bakery rise

Learn how a large bakery company complimented their private fleet with Schneider Dedicated freight services to increase freight capacity, amplify visibility & reduce costs.