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Four Biggest Meatpackers Received Subpoenas In Antitrust Probe

By  |  June 5, 2020

The Justice Department is formally demanding information from the country’s four biggest meatpackers over potential antitrust violations, according to a person familiar with the matter, deepening scrutiny of an industry that’s been riled by shutdowns due to the coronavirus.

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    According to Bloomberg department’s antitrust division sent civil investigative demands, which are akin to subpoenas, to the companies and is talking with state attorneys general about the probe after a group of states called for an investigation, said the person, who declined to be named because the inquiry is confidential.

    Meatpacking is highly consolidated with four companies — Tyson Foods Inc., JBS SA, Cargill Inc. and National Beef Inc. — controlling more than 80% of the U.S. beef processing market. Their dominance has sparked longstanding concerns about their pricing power over livestock suppliers.