National

DOJ taking aim at food prices, acting AG says

By Jody Godoy Reuters
U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche arrives to begin a news conference to announce results of their investigation into potential antitrust violations in the meat-packing industry at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 4, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche arrives to begin a news conference to announce results of their investigation into potential antitrust violations in the meat-packing industry at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 4, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Jonathan Ernst Reuters

May 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice will use every law enforcement tool available to address rising food prices, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Monday.

Prosecutors have reviewed more than 3 million documents and conducted interviews in their ongoing probe of the meat-packing industry, Blanche said at a press conference.

The DOJ is also planning to announce a "historic settlement" that will help the price of proteins, Blanche said without mentioning the companies involved.

The DOJ is scheduled to go to trial against data company Agri Stats soon in a case alleging its weekly reports on meat pricing and sales have enabled anticompetitive practices in the chicken, pork, and turkey industries.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 8:04 AM.

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