Missouri Attorney General Intervenes in Tyson, Cal-Maine Antitrust Lawsuit

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced his intervention in an ongoing class action lawsuit against Tyson Foods Inc. and Cal-Maine Foods Inc., accusing the companies of engaging in anti-competitive conduct that harms Missouri jobs and communities.

Bailey announced his intentions on July 12 via a post on his X account, stating, “People deserve better than large corporations that engage in anti-competitive behavior at the expense of Missouri jobs and communities. To that end, I am filing a motion to intervene in the antitrust lawsuit against Tyson Foods. I will always fight for Missouri agriculture.”

The lawsuit, filed last month by poultry producers, accuses Tyson and Cal-Maine of engaging in anticompetitive and deceptive practices in connection with the closure and subsequent sale of a processing plant in Dexter, Missouri. The lawsuit follows an August 2023 Tyson case. announcement that it will close two poultry processing plants in Noel and Dexter, Missouri, as well as two others in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Corydon, Indiana.

Read more: Farmers file class action lawsuit against Tyson Foods for alleged antitrust violations

Last October, Bailey urged Tyson to consider selling the Missouri plants rather than closing them, emphasizing the potential impact on local jobs and the agricultural community. Despite those calls, the closures have continued, raising serious concerns among local poultry producers and prompting recent legal action.

In March, Cal-Maine Foods completed its acquisition of a former Tyson processing plant, hatchery and feed mill in Dexter. The company announced plans to convert the facility into an eggshell plant, further intensifying the controversy and accusations of anti-competitive practices.

Bailey’s intervention in the lawsuit underscores his commitment to protecting Missouri’s agricultural sector and ensuring fair competition. By stepping in, he intends to hold these corporations accountable for their actions and mitigate the negative impacts on Missouri’s economy and communities.

Source: Meat Poultry