$8-million settlement proposed in national beef price-fixing class-action
A proposed $8‑million settlement resolves a national beef price‑fixing class‑action against major meat firms, pending court approval.Summary
A proposed settlement of $8 million has been announced in a national class‑action lawsuit alleging that several major beef companies conspired to fix prices in Canada. The settling parties—JBS USA, Swift Beef, JBS Packerland, JBS Canada ULC, and National Beef—agree to pay $7.49 million and $495,000 respectively, without admitting wrongdoing. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, accuses the companies of sharing sensitive information to control slaughter volumes and beef prices; actions against Cargill and Tyson remain ongoing. A butcher in Vancouver notes beef prices have more than doubled over eight years, hoping the settlement will lower costs for consumers. Court hearings to approve the deal are set for September in British Columbia and December in Quebec, with the distribution of funds still to be determined. The settlement excludes beef sold to restaurants and other food‑service buyers. A similar bread price‑fixing class‑action settled for $500 million in 2024, offering Canadians $25 each.
(Source：SooToday)