DOJ confirms probe into beef processors

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an antitrust investigation into the nation’s beef processing industry, raising concerns about market concentration and its impact on cattle producers. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said officials are examining whether consolidation among major meatpackers has contributed to higher beef prices. According to federal officials, the four largest processors—Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS USA, and National Beef Packing—control about 85 percent of the fed cattle market. Investigators have reviewed more than three million documents as part of the probe. Blanche emphasized the department’s commitment to enforcement. “We will use every law enforcement tool available,” he said, while also encouraging whistleblowers to come forward. For U.S. farmers and ranchers, the investigation could lead to greater competition and fairer pricing, potentially improving market access and profitability in the cattle sector. Blanche also told Agri-Pulse that he wasn’t in a position to say whether the DOJ was close to a lawsuit.