Canadians who bought beef products may qualify for class action payout
Canadians who bought beef since 2015 may receive compensation from a $7.9M class‑action settlement over alleged price fixing.Summary
The proposed settlement involves JBS USA Company, Swift Beef Company, JBS Packerland Inc., JBS Canada ULC and National Beef Packing Company, which have agreed to pay a total of $7,993,700 to resolve class action lawsuits alleging beef price fixing in Canada. The law firms CFM Lawyers, Strosberg Wingfield Sasso and Belleau Lapointe announced the settlements, noting that JBS will contribute $7,498,700 and National Beef $495,000, and that both companies will cooperate with plaintiffs while claims continue against non‑settling defendants such as certain Cargill and Tyson entities.
The settlement covers Canadians outside Quebec who purchased beef or beef products for personal use or resale between 1 January 2015 and the date the settlement is certified; a separate class applies to Quebec residents. Court approval is still required, and no individual compensation amounts have been set. Eligible class members need not act now, but anyone wishing to opt out must do so by 10 August 2026. The law firms stressed that the settlements are not an admission of liability, fault, or wrongdoing by JBS or National Beef, but are compromises of disputed claims.
(Source：The News International)