Egg
prices soared as much as 150% back in 2023 and now the Department of
Justice has reached a settlement with several large producers, saying
that collusion was the real cause of the price gains and not bird flu.
The
DOJ has reached a $3.3 million settlement with three of the country's
largest egg produces including Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman's
Egg Ranch.
The department says that the companies illegally
coordinated over the course of three years to inflate the price index
for eggs.
The companies disagree saying it was HPAI that reduced supplies and sent prices higher.
As
part of the settlement, the companies will donate 53 million eggs to
food banks. That equals nearly $10 million at the retail level.


