McDonald’s has filed a lawsuit against Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, National Beef Packing, and other major meat processors, accusing them of colluding to limit beef supplies in order to inflate prices. The lawsuit claims that starting in 2015, these companies deliberately reduced production to artificially raise beef prices, increasing their profits while forcing McDonald’s to pay more. The “Big Four” beef companies, which control about 80% of the U.S. beef market, are at the center of these allegations. This legal action follows broader accusations of anti-competitive practices in the meatpacking industry, with the Department of Justice investigating pricing practices since 2020. McDonald’s is seeking monetary damages and a court order to end the alleged price-fixing scheme, and has requested a jury trial.
