McDonald's Sues Beef Suppliers Over Price Fixing

McDonald's has filed a lawsuit against major meat processing companies, including Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef Packing Company, accusing them of conspiring to fix beef prices and limit supplies to inflate market prices. The fast-food giant claims these practices date back to 2015 and violate the Sherman Antitrust Act. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, argues that these 'Big Four' companies have monopolized the beef market, controlling over 80% of it. This alleged collusion has forced higher costs on McDonald's and other buyers, prompting the company to seek damages and legal intervention. Previous settlements by some companies in similar cases did not include admissions of wrongdoing, and the meat processors have cited supply and demand factors as reasons for price increases. The case aligns with broader allegations against the meatpacking industry regarding anti-competitive behavior, with ongoing federal investigations by the DOJ and USDA.