US Egg Producers Settle Price‑Fixing Case, Donate 53 Million Eggs

The U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of state attorneys general announced a settlement with three of the nation’s largest egg producers—Cal‑Maine Foods, Hickman’s Egg Ranch and Versova—over allegations they coordinated price manipulation from June 2022 to March 2025. Investigators say the companies submitted and cancelled large bids to influence the Urner Barry daily egg price index, inflating retail egg prices nationwide.

Under the agreement, the firms will pay a combined $3.3 million in civil penalties and provide 53 million eggs to food banks and other nonprofits in 17 states, pending court approval. "No product more quintessentially represents affordability than the price Americans pay for eggs," said DOJ Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. New York Attorney General Letitia James added that the collusion “squeezed … working families.” The settlement also bans the companies from communicating about bidding strategies or price timing.

If approved, the egg donations—valued at roughly $9.7 million—will be distributed to organizations serving low‑income communities, offering relief amid ongoing inflation pressures on grocery staples.