Smithfield Paying $200 Million Total to Exit Pork Antitrust Case

Smithfield Foods Inc. has reached a third settlement of antitrust claims over its alleged role in an industrywide pork price-fixing scheme, a $75 million deal with consumers that brings its total settlement amount to $200 million, according to federal court filings in Minneapolis.

The agreement, docketed Tuesday, follows Smithfield’s previous $83 million pact with pork wholesalers and its $42 million settlement with restaurants. Together, the three deals give the company an off-ramp from class action litigation facing the country’s top pork processors in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota.

Judge John R. Tunheim approved the wholesaler settlement ...