The Largest Price-Fixing Case in U.S. Pork Market History
The biggest price-fixing lawsuit in U.S. history is nearing its conclusion. A court has ordered Tyson Foods to pay $85 million as part of a consumer class action suit. The investigation revealed that Tyson, along with other major processors — including Smithfield Foods, JBS, and Hormel Foods — conspired to limit supply and artificially raise pork prices.
Tyson is the last company to settle the case. Smithfield previously paid $75 million, and other companies have reached similar agreements. According to Reuters, dozens of supermarket chains (including Kroger), restaurant chains (such as McDonald’s), as well as food producers and distributors, have also filed lawsuits. Similar cases alleging price-fixing in the beef, chicken, and turkey industries are ongoing in several federal courts.
Illegal Child Labor in Meat Processing
The problem of illegal labor in American meatpacking plants has persisted for years. Companies often hire undocumented immigrants and minors, as the work is physically demanding and poorly paid.
In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor confirmed that since 2019, underage workers had been employed on night shifts at the Seaboard Triumph Foods plant in Sioux Falls, Iowa.
While arrests and deportations of undocumented workers continue in the U.S., meat processors remain largely outside government enforcement efforts, allowing companies to keep violating labor laws with minimal risk.
Dangerous Working Conditions
Another long-standing issue repeatedly raised by unions is the increase in processing line speeds at pork and poultry plants.
Local media in Wisconsin reported that after legislative changes in spring 2025, many plants accelerated animal processing rates, citing a “modernized inspection system.” Under the new rules, carcass inspection duties were shifted from federal inspectors to company employees, raising concerns about worker safety and animal welfare.
In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes intended to “reduce burdens” on the meat industry. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) also removed the requirement for plants to submit workplace injury data, claiming that “research has found no direct link between processing speeds and worker injuries.”
Impact on the Industry
Despite attempts by large corporations to distance themselves from the allegations, experts say the reputational damage to the U.S. meat industry is enormous. The lawsuits highlight not only market monopolization and consumer exploitation, but also deep social issues — unsafe working conditions, exploitation of migrants, and child labor.
Analysts believe that these scandals could lead to tighter regulation and increased oversight of the industry. However, history suggests that without systemic reforms, government actions are often limited to symbolic measures.
PigUA.info based on materials from pigprogress.net