Broiler antitrust claims against Tyson Foods dismissed

Claims brought against Tyson Foods in the Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation case, brought by U.S. grocery chains, was dismissed with prejudice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

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Jason Morrison | Freeimages.com
Jason Morrison | Freeimages.com

Claims brought against Tyson Foods in the Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation case, brought by U.S. grocery chains, was dismissed with prejudice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

According to a court document dated October 18, the plaintiffs and Tyson foods stipulate and agree to the dismissal, with prejudice, of the plaintiffs’ claims asserted against Tyson Foods.

In the litigation, the grocery chains listed as plaintiffs, claim that Tyson Foods conspired with other major chicken companies in the United States and Agri Stats, in an effort to drive up the price of chicken.

Plaintiffs listed include The Kroger Co., Albertsons Companies, Hy-Vee, Save Mart Supermarkets, Associated Grocers of the South, Meijer, OSI Restaurant Partners, Publix and Wakefern Food Corporation.

According to the court document, the stipulation of dismissal with prejudice has no bearing on the plaintiffs claims against other defendant poultry companies named in the litigation.

Tyson had previously reached settlements in cases in which it was accused of conspiring with other animal protein producers to raise the price of meat and poultry, but it has stated that it was doing so not as an admission of any wrongdoing, but to continue to do business without the distraction of a lawsuit.

In January, the company agreed to pay $221.5 million to settle all class claims related to allegations of collusion with other broiler producers.

In addition, Tyson Foods in July agreed to pay $1.75 million to settle claims in conspired with other turkey producers to inflate prices.

Tyson Foods has also been accused in lawsuits of conspiring with other pork producers.

Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, Tyson Foods is the largest broiler producer and fifth largest turkey producer in the United States. It is also a producer of pork, beef and plant-based protein products.

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