Three US egg producers settle price-fixing claims for $3.3 million and 53 million eggs

Three major U.S. egg producers, including Cal-Maine Foods, have reached antitrust settlements with the Department of Justice and 17 states over allegations they manipulated supply and coordinated bids to artificially inflate egg prices for retailers and consumers. The companies agreed to pay a total of $3.3 million to the states and donate 53 million eggs to food banks and community organizations across the participating states, while also ending their illegal coordination and implementing compliance measures. The investigation revealed that high-ranking officials from the firms communicated for nearly three years, starting in December 2022, to influence daily price indices and drive up costs, ultimately harming households and businesses nationwide. This settlement resolves the allegations and ensures future oversight to prevent similar price-fixing schemes that threatened the stability of the egg market.