Canada Beef Price Fixing Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: Plaintiff Sylvie De Bellefeuille has launched a price-fixing class action lawsuit against the largest suppliers of beef in Canada.
- Why: The beef price-fixing class action lawsuit alleges the suppliers engaged in a conspiracy to restrict competition and raise the prices of beef sold in Quebec.
- Where: The Canada beef price fixing class action lawsuit was filed in Quebec Superior Court.
The largest suppliers of beef in Canada are facing a potential price-fixing class action lawsuit over an alleged conspiracy to restrict competition and inflate the prices of beef sold in Quebec, Global News reports.
The Quebec beef supplier class action lawsuit alleges that companies affiliated with Cargill Inc., JBS Canada ULC, Tyson Food Inc. and National Beef Packing Co LLC have conspired to “unduly restrict competition related to the production, supply or sale of beef” in Quebec since the start of 2015.
The meat-packing plants control about 85% of the Canadian beef market and 80% of the U.S. market, according to the beef price-fixing class action lawsuit.
Lead plaintiff Sylvie De Bellefeuille is seeking compensation in the amount she and other putative class members overpaid due to the alleged beef price fixing conspiracy.
“I find this situation exasperating,” Bellefeuille says in the class action. “When we talk about meat, and beef in particular, it’s something many people buy for their basic food needs and when it’s people with low income, they have a hard time buying beef, so it’s something that really frustrates me.”
In February, a similar beef price-fixing class action lawsuit was filed in British Columbia. Lawyers in the B.C. case and the Quebec case are reportedly working together to coordinate a national strategy as their class action lawsuits move forward.
Beef Price-Fixing Case Settled in U.S.
The Canada beef price-fixing class action lawsuits were filed approximately two years after the attorneys general of 11 U.S. midwestern states urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate allegations of price-fixing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JBS USA reportedly agreed to settle several price-fixing lawsuits in Minnesota for US$52.5 million in February 2022.
In related news, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reportedly launched a criminal investigation into the Cargill meat packing plant in High River, Alberta, in response to a massive COVID-19 outbreak. More than 900 workers reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, and more than 1,500 cases were linked to the Cargill plant.
Three deaths were reportedly linked to the Alberta Cargill meat packing plant COVID-19 outbreak.
What do you think of the allegations that Canada beef suppliers engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy that caused consumers to pay inflated prices for beef? Join the discussion in the comments below!
The putative class members are represented by Belleau Lapointe.
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7 thoughts onCanada Beef Suppliers Class Action Alleges Quebec Price-Fixing
Add me to any class action lawsuit for bread and meat fixing
Please add me to the meat price fixing class action lawsuit.
Please add me to this class action lawsuit
I’ve been noticing a lot of prices that are similar in grocery store I shopped at and still shop at find it a big coincidence that they all have the same prices . Thank you Merci
Wish to join the meat packing class action.
Also any outstanding suit against Loblaws for bread price-fixing.
Thank you for holding these companies to account.
Please add me to this class action lawsuit
Can’t be that everywhere i go it’s all the same price I find it strange