By Jody Godoy and David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, May 7 (Reuters) – The Justice Department and six states have settled their civil lawsuit against data company Agri Stats, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Thursday, adding the move will lower meat prices for consumers.
The Justice Department in September 2023 alleged Indiana-based Agri Stats’ weekly reports on meat pricing and sales enabled anti-competitive practices in the chicken, pork, and turkey industries. The case was scheduled to go to trial this month.
Agri Stats previously called the claims baseless and said its services result in lower prices. Agri Stats did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The case underlines the Trump administration’s increasing focus on affordability as Americans sour on how President Donald Trump has handled the rising cost of living.
Blanche previously said Agri Stats’ business model allowed for sharing of confidential information among only meat producers “putting buyers of meat – like grocery stores and restaurants – at a competitive disadvantage.”
The settlement “forces Agri Stats to make its reports available to all buyers and sellers to ensure every level of the food supply chain operates on an even playing field. This settlement means that meat prices will go down for consumers,” he said on X on Thursday.
No settlement documents were immediately released.
In January, Agri Stats agreed to settle a federal antitrust class action alleging it conspired with major red meat processors to suppress U.S. worker wages at plants across the country.
Agri Stats in January said it would change how it reports some labor-related data in the future.
Agri Stats in October separately agreed to settle an antitrust lawsuit in federal court in Maryland alleging it conspired with major poultry processors to keep worker wages artificially low.
(Reporting by Jody Godoy, David Shepardson, Jody Godoy and Ismail Shakil; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis and Nia Williams)
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