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US: Senator asks Justice Department to investigate sale of Cargill pork unit

By  |  July 30, 2015

Senator Charles Grassley has asked the Justice Department to investigate the purchase of Cargill’s pork division by JBS USA Pork.

The Iowa Republican questions whether the $1.45 billion deal will restrict competition and leave consumers paying more for pork.

“I urge the antitrust division to thoroughly examine this proposed acquisition to preserve a competitive market in the pork industry,” Grassley wrote to Assistant Attorney General William Baer in a letter dated Monday.

Grassley said he wants to make sure the sale does not “facilitate … anti-competitive and predatory business practices in the industry.” The purchase will consolidate 71 percent of the nation’s pork processing capacity among four companies, he added.

Full content: Pork Network

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