The U.S. Department of Justice expands an antitrust investigation into rising beef prices by sending information requests to eight major grocery and retail chains. In an X post, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward says letters were sent to Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Albertsons, Aldi, Ahold Delhaize USA, Costco, and Amazon, citing beef affordability as a priority.
The letters expand on an earlier DOJ probe into the meatpacking industry and how beef prices rise through the supply chain. Sources say the DOJ has already been examining large meat processors, including Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS, and National Beef, and has reviewed millions of documents. The new retailers’ inquiries seek detailed pricing-related information, such as how companies price beef and what they pay wholesale, along with costs and margins.
Outlets also cite the broader context: beef prices rise over recent years, while the cattle herd is reportedly at its smallest level in decades amid drought and other pressures. Some coverage links the investigation to concerns about possible collusion or price manipulation, while DOJ officials emphasize the effort is meant to understand how prices increase and does not presume wrongdoing.
