Ken Paxton and DOJ Reach Antitrust Settlement to Lower Meat Prices
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a major antitrust settlement with agricultural data company Agri Stats, Inc., reached in partnership with the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice, aimed at restoring competition in the meat industry and helping reduce grocery prices for consumers.
According to the announcement, Agri Stats allegedly facilitated the sharing of sensitive pricing and operational data among meat processors, including companies involved in the chicken, pork, and turkey industries. Officials say the information-sharing practices allowed competitors to monitor each other’s pricing strategies and production levels, reducing market competition and contributing to higher grocery prices nationwide.
The settlement requires Agri Stats to make significant changes to how it collects and distributes industry data. The company has also agreed to make monetary payments to participating states as part of the agreement. State and federal officials describe the settlement as one of the most substantial antitrust enforcement actions involving the agricultural sector in recent years.
Attorney General Paxton said the agreement is intended to protect consumers and ensure fair pricing in the food supply chain.
“Americans deserve fairly priced groceries, and I am honored to have partnered with President Trump’s DOJ to lower the cost of chicken, pork, and turkey,” Paxton said in a statement. “Agri Stats facilitated the sharing of information that killed true competition in pricing and raised the price of food for consumers.”
The settlement is part of a broader effort by Paxton’s office to investigate alleged anticompetitive practices affecting Texas agriculture. In recent years, the Attorney General’s office has pursued multiple agriculture-related investigations and lawsuits, including actions involving pesticide manufacturers and egg producer Cal-Maine over alleged price gouging.
Officials say the Agri Stats settlement could influence future standards governing how competitors share market information across the agriculture industry, with the goal of improving transparency and preventing coordinated pricing practices that impact consumers.