Cal-Maine Foods has agreed to a $1.5 million settlement to resolve claims with the US Department of Justice and a coalition of state attorneys general in 17 states over allegations it participated in a scheme to manipulate an industry price index for cage-free eggs. The settlement is part of a broader resolution involving multiple major egg producers investigated for sharing bidding information through a cooperative, though Cal-Maine exited the cooperative before the 15-month investigation began. In addition to the monetary payment, the company will donate 30 million eggs to food banks and nonprofits, while denying all wrongdoing and insisting its conduct was lawful.
Cal-Maine Foods IncSettlement of price-fixing probe with DOJ and state AGs, including $1.5M payment and egg donation, despite denying wrongdoing.