Pilgrim’s Pride has agreed to pay a $100 million settlement to settle claims that it conspired with competitors to underpay chicken farmers.
The case alleged large poultry producers colluded to keep farmers’ pay low by sharing confidential compensation information and agreeing not to recruit each other’s farmers. The settlement is the largest in the seven-year-long antitrust case, according to a Reuters report.
Tyson Foods, Sanderson Farms, Koch Foods and Perdue Foods previously settled for $21 million, $17.75 million, $15.5 million and $14.75 million, respectively. A preliminary settlement was filed on Aug. 16 with the U.S. District Court in Muskogee, OK.
If approved, the total recovery will be $169 million, minus legal fees and other expenses, Reuters said.
