Buy beef from 2014 to 2019? You may be eligible for a cash payment – USA Today
If you bought beef between 2014 and 2019, you may be eligible for part of a cash settlement.
Multiple meat manufacturers have been accused in an antitrust class action lawsuit of entering a non-compete agreement to increase beef prices. As a result, customers impacted by these alleged practices may be eligible for compensation.
The lawsuit alleged that multiple food companies agreed to stop competing against each other for market share, allowing the companies to increase the price customers paid for beef between Aug. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2019, according to a website dedicated to the litigation.
Named in the federal lawsuit are JBS USA Food Company, Swift Beef Company, JBS Packerland, Cargill, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, National Beef Packing Company, Tyson Foods and Tyson Fresh Meats.
According to the website, Tyson Foods, Inc. and Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. have agreed to settlements totaling $55 million, while Cargill has agreed to a $32.5 million resolution.
USA TODAY contacted Tyson Foods, who owns Tyson Fresh Meats, and Cargill on Friday, Jan. 2, but has not received a response.
A judge is scheduled to hold a fairness hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota at 11 a.m. CT on May 12, 2026, to rule whether these settlements will be approved.
Those receiving cash settlements will have to wait until the payments are approved and appeals end, a process that “can take time,” lawyers for the plaintiffs wrote on the lawsuit website.
In October 2025, Tyson Foods separately agreed to pay $85 million to settle a consumer class action accusing the meat manufacturer of conspiring with rivals to inflate pork prices, Reuters reported.
Here’s what beef buyers should know if they want a piece of the total $87.5 million cash settlement.
The lawsuit includes beef (fresh or frozen) made from chuck, loin, rib or round primal cuts, according to the lawsuit’s website.
Some beef products are not included, such as:
The class and their attorneys have created a searchable database to look up cuts of beef included in the lawsuit.
Consumers are part of the lawsuit if they indirectly purchased (i.e., from a grocery store) these products between August 2014 and December 2019.
According to the plaintiffs and their lawyers, customers have multiple options regarding the lawsuit.
Per the website, here are some options for consumers:
Customers wanting more information on the lawsuit can visit www.overchargedforbeef.com, call 1-877-283-8711, or write to: Consumer Indirect Beef Litigation c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 3605, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3605.
Consumers can download claim forms on the lawsuit website and mail them in, or submit the forms online.
Those wanting to submit the forms via mail must ensure the documents are postmarked no later than June 30, 2026, and send them to: Consumer Indirect Beef Litigation Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 3605, Portland, Oregon 97208-3605.
According to the consumers and lawyers behind the lawsuit, those interested in speaking at the May 12 fairness hearing can request to do so by mailing a letter postmarked by March 30.
The letter must include:
Consumers must send their letters to: Consumer Indirect Beef Litigation c/o Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 3605 Portland, Oregon, 97208-3605 or United States District Court for the District of Minnesota 300 South Fourth Street, Suite 202, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
source
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
Multiple meat manufacturers have been accused in an antitrust class action lawsuit of entering a non-compete agreement to increase beef prices. As a result, customers impacted by these alleged practices may be eligible for compensation.
The lawsuit alleged that multiple food companies agreed to stop competing against each other for market share, allowing the companies to increase the price customers paid for beef between Aug. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2019, according to a website dedicated to the litigation.
Named in the federal lawsuit are JBS USA Food Company, Swift Beef Company, JBS Packerland, Cargill, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, National Beef Packing Company, Tyson Foods and Tyson Fresh Meats.
According to the website, Tyson Foods, Inc. and Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. have agreed to settlements totaling $55 million, while Cargill has agreed to a $32.5 million resolution.
USA TODAY contacted Tyson Foods, who owns Tyson Fresh Meats, and Cargill on Friday, Jan. 2, but has not received a response.
A judge is scheduled to hold a fairness hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota at 11 a.m. CT on May 12, 2026, to rule whether these settlements will be approved.
Those receiving cash settlements will have to wait until the payments are approved and appeals end, a process that “can take time,” lawyers for the plaintiffs wrote on the lawsuit website.
In October 2025, Tyson Foods separately agreed to pay $85 million to settle a consumer class action accusing the meat manufacturer of conspiring with rivals to inflate pork prices, Reuters reported.
Here’s what beef buyers should know if they want a piece of the total $87.5 million cash settlement.
The lawsuit includes beef (fresh or frozen) made from chuck, loin, rib or round primal cuts, according to the lawsuit’s website.
Some beef products are not included, such as:
The class and their attorneys have created a searchable database to look up cuts of beef included in the lawsuit.
Consumers are part of the lawsuit if they indirectly purchased (i.e., from a grocery store) these products between August 2014 and December 2019.
According to the plaintiffs and their lawyers, customers have multiple options regarding the lawsuit.
Per the website, here are some options for consumers:
Customers wanting more information on the lawsuit can visit www.overchargedforbeef.com, call 1-877-283-8711, or write to: Consumer Indirect Beef Litigation c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 3605, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3605.
Consumers can download claim forms on the lawsuit website and mail them in, or submit the forms online.
Those wanting to submit the forms via mail must ensure the documents are postmarked no later than June 30, 2026, and send them to: Consumer Indirect Beef Litigation Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 3605, Portland, Oregon 97208-3605.
According to the consumers and lawyers behind the lawsuit, those interested in speaking at the May 12 fairness hearing can request to do so by mailing a letter postmarked by March 30.
The letter must include:
Consumers must send their letters to: Consumer Indirect Beef Litigation c/o Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 3605 Portland, Oregon, 97208-3605 or United States District Court for the District of Minnesota 300 South Fourth Street, Suite 202, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
source
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
