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NewsTelemundo 51 Miami – MainJuly 3, 2026United States

Major Egg Producers Settle Price-Fixing Lawsuit

Three major U.S. egg producers have reached a settlement with the Department of Justice and 17 states to resolve allegations of illegal price-fixing between 2022 and 2025. The companies will pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs to food banks, though they have not admitted to any wrongdoing.

antitrustegg pricesconsumer protectionlawsuit settlementfood supply
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Why It Matters

The settlement resolves federal and state allegations that consumers paid artificially inflated prices for eggs due to coordinated market manipulation by three major producers.

Key Facts

  • Three egg producers (Cal-Maine, Versova, Hickman’s) will pay a combined $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs to resolve price-fixing allegations.
  • The settlement requires the companies to implement antitrust compliance programs and prohibits communication with competitors regarding pricing.
  • Cal-Maine will pay $1.5 million and donate 30 million eggs.
  • Versova will pay $800,000 and donate 20 million eggs.
  • Hickman’s Egg Ranch will pay $1 million and donate 3.25 million eggs.
  • The lawsuit alleged the companies coordinated to inflate egg prices between June 2022 and March 2025.
  • The companies allegedly manipulated data submitted to Urner Barry Publications, which sets industry price indices.
  • The settlement requires court approval.
  • The companies did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the agreement.
  • The average price of eggs reached a record high of $6.23 per dozen in March 2025.
  • Egg prices dropped to below $2.20 per dozen by May 2026.
  • 17 states joined the Department of Justice in the settlement, including New York, California, Texas, and Iowa.

Who's Mentioned

organizationHickman’s Egg Ranch“Egg producer accused of price-fixing; agreed to pay $1 million and donate 3.25 m”personAngela Huffman“President of Farm Action, a group critical of the settlement terms.”personLetitia James“New York Attorney General who helped lead the investigation.”organizationVersova“Egg producer accused of price-fixing; agreed to pay $800,000 and donate 20 milli”organizationUrner Barry Publications“Company that manages a key index used to set egg prices.”organizationCal-Maine Foods“Egg producer accused of price-fixing; agreed to pay $1.5 million and donate 30 m”