Tyson Foods Wins First Approval of $83 Million Price-Fixing Deal

Tyson Foods Inc. gained preliminary approval of an $82.5 million deal to settle claims that it colluded with other protein producers to inflate the price of beef.

The company’s settlement with direct purchaser plaintiffs was “arrived at by arm’s-length negotiations by experienced counsel with the assistance of an experienced mediator” and “falls within the range of possible approval,” Judge John R. Tunheim of the US District Court for the District of Minnesota said in an order Thursday.

Tyson had agreed to pay $80 million in settlement funds plus an additional $2.5 million toward notice and administrative costs, along with providing cooperation to class members pursuing claims against the remaining defendants.

The settlement class is defined as people and entities who directly purchased beef for use or delivery in the US—including chuck, loin, rib, or round—from defendants or their subsidiaries from Jan. 1, 2015 to Feb. 29, 2020.

The direct purchaser plaintiffs are represented by Gustafson Gluek PLLC; Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP; Hartley LLP; and Hausfeld LLP. Tyson is represented by Perkins Coie LLP.

The case is in Re: Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation, Docket, D. Minn., No. 0:22-md-03031, order granting preliminary approval 5/14/26.