Judge Grants Preliminary Approval to Tyson's $85Million Prok Price-Fixing Settlement

A Minnestota federal judge has granted preliminary approval to an $85 million settlement that would resolve antitrust allegations against Tyson Foods Inc., marking a significant milestone in the years-long litigation over pork prive-fixing. According to a statement from the U.S. District Court, the agreement address claims that Tyson and several other pork producers consipred  to inflate prices by coordinating supply levels through shared data.

U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim issued the ruling on Friday, characterizing the proposed settlement as fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of consumers. Per a statement from the court, the agreement was achieved through extensive, arm's length negotiations conducted by experienced counsel representing both sides. The judge emphasized that Tyson did not oppose the motion, and the approval seeks to streamline proceedings while maximizing restitution to affected consumers.

According to court documents, the settlememt applises to Tyson Foods, Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., and Tyson Prepared Foods Inc. Consumers first petitioned the court for approval of the deal on October 1. The $85 million payout follows similiar settlements with JBS USA, Simithfiled Foods, and Hormel Foods ,bringing the total recovery in the broader multidistrict litigation to nearly $208 million. Per a statement in the filings, the Tyson payout represents approximately 20 percent of the alleged overcharges, equivalent to about $4.25 million per market share point.

Related: Beef Price-Fixing Suit Ends in $87.5 Milion Settlement with Tyson and Cargill

Attroneys for the consumer plaintiffs said the result offers meaningful compensation to those harmed by inflated pork prices."This sum is fair and reasonable in light of Tyson's maerket positions," the plaintiffs' legal team stated, adding that the agreement delivers "significant relief" to consumers impacted by the alleged price manipulation.

In his order, Judge Tunheim also determined that formal notice to the class could be postponed to reduce administrative costs and ensure that a greater share of the settlement funds reaches claimants directly. According to the court's statement, this approach aligns with the goal of efficiency and fairness in distributing recovery funds.

With Tyson's settlement now preliminary approved, only two defendants-Agri Stats Inc. and Triumph Foods LLC-remain in the case brought by indirect consumer purchasers.