# US food antitrust settlements

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-egg-price-fixing-case-settlement
> Updated: 2026-08-06T03:22:19.000Z. Sources: 55. Developments: 8.

The U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of 17 state attorneys general settled an antitrust case with the three largest egg producers—Cal‑Maine Foods, Versova Holdings and Hickman’s Egg Ranch—over alleged price‑fixing from June 2022 through March 2025. The firms will pay a combined $3.3 million in civil penalties and donate roughly 53 million eggs (valued at about $9.7 million) to food‑security charities in the participating states. The settlement, announced June 30 2026, bars communications that could affect pricing, requires antitrust‑compliance programs overseen by designated officers, and is pending court approval. New York Attorney General Letitia James called the scheme “unconscionable.” The first donation delivery of 280,280 eggs arrived in Brooklyn, with New York slated to receive about 5 million of the total. Cal‑Maine will contribute $1.5 million, about 0.12 % of its 2025 net profit. After the settlement, retail egg prices fell below $2.20 per dozen by May 2026. Parallel settlements include a ten‑year agreement with data firm Agri Stats to curb meat‑price information sharing. Market reaction featured a $1.4 million institutional purchase of Cal‑Maine shares and a $320 million family stake sale following the DOJ’s investigative demand.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-06: US Egg Producers Settlement Requires 53 Million Egg Donation

US egg producers Cal‑Maine, Versova and Hickman's Egg Ranch settled price‑fixing claims, paying $3.3 M and donating 53 M eggs to food banks across 17 states.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-egg-producers-settle-pricefixing-case-donate-53-million-eggs

### 2026-07-17: US DOJ Settles Antitrust Case with Agri Stats to Cut Meat Prices

The DOJ and six states settled with Agri Stats, restricting its meat‑pricing data to help lower consumer meat prices and curb alleged anti‑competitive practices.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-doj-settles-antitrust-case-with-agri-stats-to-cut-meat-prices

### 2026-07-14: U.S. DOJ Secures $3.3 Million Settlement Over Egg Price Collusion

DOJ and 17 states settled with Cal‑Maine, Versova and Hickman’s over alleged egg price‑fixing, imposing $3.3 million in fines and a donation of over 50 million eggs.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-doj-secures-33-million-settlement-over-egg-price-collusion

### 2026-07-08: Cal-Maine Foods receives $1.4 M institutional purchase and $320 M family stake sale amid DOJ antitrust probe

Stephens Inc. bought $1.4 M of Cal‑Maine stock while the Adams family sold nearly $320 M of shares as the DOJ probes alleged egg‑price‑fixing by Cal‑Maine and rivals.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cal-maine-foods-receives-14-m-institutional-purchase-and-320-m-family-stake-sale-amid-doj-antitrust-

### 2026-07-06: US Egg Producers Settle Price‑Fixing Case, Donate 53 Million Eggs

The DOJ and state AGs settled with Cal‑Maine, Hickman’s Egg Ranch, and Versova for alleged egg price‑fixing, imposing $3.3 M fines and a pledge to donate 53 M eggs to food banks across 17 states.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-doj-and-states-secure-53-million-eggs-in-egg-pricefixing-settlement

### 2026-07-01: US egg producers to pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs after price‑fixing probe

US Justice Dept. and 17 states settled with Cal‑Maine, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch, requiring $3.3 million payment, donation of 53 million eggs and antitrust compliance measures.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-egg-producers-to-pay-33-million-and-donate-53-million-eggs-after-pricefixing-probe

### 2026-07-01: US Egg Producers Settle Antitrust Price-Fixing Case

The DOJ and 17 states settled with Cal‑Maine, Versova and Hickman’s, imposing $3.3 million in fines and a donation of 53 million eggs after allegations they fixed prices that pushed wholesale egg costs to $6.23

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-egg-producers-settle-doj-antitrust-case-pay-33-m-and-donate-53-m-eggs

### 2026-06-30: U.S. Egg Producers Agree to $3.3 M Settlement and Donate 53 Million Eggs

DOJ and 17 states settled with Cal‑Maine, Versova and Hickman’s over alleged egg‑price fixing; producers will pay $3.3 M and donate 53 million eggs, while agreeing to new antitrust safeguards.

28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-justice-department-settles-egg-pricefixing-case-with-major-producers

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Cite as: US food antitrust settlements. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-egg-price-fixing-case-settlement