DOJ, states could secure 53 million eggs in price manipulation settlement
The companies will donate 53 million eggs and pay $3.3 million, while adopting compliance steps to resolve claims they inflated prices.
- On Monday, the Department of Justice and 17 state attorneys general reached a $3.3 million settlement with Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman's Egg Ranch to resolve allegations they artificially inflated egg prices for consumers and retailers.
- Between June 2022 and March 2025, authorities allege the companies secretly communicated to coordinate bids influencing daily price quotations published by Urner Barry, a benchmark widely used in egg supply contracts.
- Under the proposed agreement, the three producers must pay $3.3 million combined and donate 53 million eggs to food banks, pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
- Cal-Maine CEO Sherman Miller called the allegations 'baseless,' while advocacy group Farm Action argued the settlement allows corporations to treat fines as a 'cost of doing business' rather than meaningful accountability.
- Egg prices surged to record highs above $6 per dozen last year amid avian flu outbreaks, yet costs have recently tumbled to under $2.20 per dozen, providing relief after years of volatility.
55 Articles
55 Articles
Major egg producers ‘conspired’ to drive up prices, settlement says
A year ago, egg shortages had Utah consumers and businesses scrambling. Now, the state’s about to see an influx. Cases of eggs in storage at a Salt Lake City bakery on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Utah will receive about 125,000 cartons of eggs as part of a settlement over a scheme involving three major egg producers who conspired to illegally drive up prices across Utah and other states, the Utah attorney general’s office announced. Photo by Chris…
Egg producers will pay $3.3M and donate 53 million eggs to settle price-fixing claims including in Minn.
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department and 17 states reached settlement agreements with three major egg producers this week to resolve allegations that the companies illegally colluded for years to raise prices, including when the cost soared to record highs last year. The states and federal government accused Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch of a behind-the-scenes arrangement to “artificially inflate the daily price quotati…
US gets top egg producers to pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs over inflated price allegations
For millions of Americans, eggs became one of the clearest symbols of the inflation crunch as grocery prices surged and household budgets tightened. Now, federal and state officials say some of the country's biggest egg producers may have made that pain worse by manipulating prices. Three companies, Cal-Maine Foods, Hickman's Egg Ranch, and Versova agreed to pay a combined $3.3 million to resolve allegations that they "artificially increased" eg…
KWXX - Hilo, HI
omahadailyrecord.comEgg producers will pay $3.3M and donate 53 million eggs to settle price-fixing claims
(AP) — The U.S. Justice Department and 17 states reached settlement agreements with three major egg producers this week to resolve allegations that the companies illegally colluded for years to raise prices, including when the cost soared to record highs last year. The states and federal government accused Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch of a behind-the-scenes arrangement to “artificially inflate the daily price quotations for e…
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