The U.S. Department of Justice and six states have reached a settlement in their antitrust lawsuit against data company Agri Stats. It’s a move federal officials say could help lower meat prices for consumers. The lawsuit alleged Agri Stats’ detailed weekly pricing and sales reports enabled anti-competitive behavior within the chicken, pork, and turkey industries. Under the settlement, the company will face new limits on the data it can collect and must make information available to meat buyers such as grocery stores and restaurants, not just processors.
“This Department of Justice is laser-focused on making everyday life affordable for all Americans,” said Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General. The agreement, which still requires court approval, includes participation from California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Officials say the changes are intended to increase transparency and competition throughout the meat supply chain.
-NAFB