Benchmarks
Nifty24,441.60170.75
FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★
Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth
5Y Return
23.04 %
Invest Now
Enter search text:
The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.
Read Today’s Paper
Egg prices in USA artificially spiked? Three producers accused of price-fixing agree to pay $3.3 million, donate 53,000,000 eggs
Egg prices in USA artificially spiked? Three producers accused of price-fixing agree to pay $3.3 million, donate 53,000,000 eggs
By Trending Desk
, ET OnlineLast Updated: Jul 06, 2026, 03:28:00 PM IST
Synopsis
America’s egg supply chain is shaken as three major producers agree to a $3.3 million settlement and donate 53 million eggs. Accused of secretly coordinating bids to inflate prices, these companies allegedly manipulated a key industry benchmark, exacerbating the “egg price shock” beyond bird flu’s impact. While denying wrongdoing, the settlement aims to prevent future price-fixing, highlighting concerns over corporate practices affecting consumer costs
AP
In a case that has rattled America’s food supply chain, three of the country’s largest egg producers have agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement after being accused of secretly working together to push egg prices higher for years. For millions of American households, eggs went from a kitchen staple to a budget headache over the past two years. Now, a joint investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and 17 state governments claims to have found out why, and the answer, according to authorities, wasn’t just bird flu, AP report stated.
The Allegation: A Secret Understanding Between Rivals
According to a civil complaint filed in a federal court in Iowa on June 29, egg giants Cal-Maine Foods, Versova (also referred to as Versova/Centrum) and Hickman’s Egg Ranch allegedly coordinated their bidding behaviour between June 2022 and March 2025 to influence a crucial industry price benchmark.Also Read: US issues heat, flood and air quality alerts across multiple states after Fourth of July stormsThat benchmark is published daily by Urner Barry, a market-reporting firm whose egg price quotations are used across the US by grocery chains, restaurants and wholesalers to fix what shoppers ultimately pay at the counter. Prosecutors allege the three companies exchanged information over calls, emails and texts to submit artificially high bids, making it look like demand for eggs was far greater than it actually was, and dragging prices up in the process.New York’s Attorney General accused the companies of quietly coordinating to inflate prices and squeeze extra profit out of ordinary consumers and businesses. “When powerful corporations collude behind the scenes to raise prices, working families suffer the costs,” New York Attorney General Letitia James, who helped lead the investigation, said in a statement. “These egg producers manipulated the market to squeeze even more profit out of consumers and businesses.”One piece of evidence cited in the complaint stands out: in December 2022, Hickman’s then-chief executive is said to have emailed counterparts at the other two firms urging them to place “strong bids, early and often”, language investigators say was aimed at nudging the benchmark upward.
Why This Matters: The Great Egg Price Shock
If you followed American headlines through 2024 and early 2025, you’ll remember the story, US egg prices soaring to record levels, memes about “liquid gold” eggs, and empty supermarket shelves blamed almost entirely on an outbreak of avian influenza that had wiped out millions of egg-laying hens.Average US egg prices touched an all-time high of $6.23 a dozen in March 2025. That narrative of a bird-flu-driven shortage was repeated widely, including by the companies now facing this settlement. Officials, however, allege that behind the scenes, coordinated bidding by the three firms compounded the crisis and kept prices elevated even when supply conditions didn’t fully justify it.
The Egg Price Settlement: Money And Millions Of Eggs
Under the proposed settlement, which still needs approval from a federal judge, the three companies will collectively pay $3.3 million to the states involved and donate roughly 53 million eggs to food banks and community organisations across America.Here’s how the numbers break down company-wise:Cal-Maine Foods:The only publicly listed company of the three will pay $1.5 million and supply 30 million eggsVersovawill contribute $800,000 and 20 million eggsHickman’s Egg Ranchwill pay $1 million and provide 3.25 million eggsBeyond the payout, each company will now be required to appoint dedicated antitrust compliance officers and set up formal internal programmes designed to prevent any future coordination on pricing.Also Read: Ingrid Alexandra: Who is Norway’s future queen in the viral clip showing her hugging shirtless Erling Haaland after Brazil win?Notably, as per Fox9 report, none of the three companies has admitted to any wrongdoing as part of the deal. Cal-Maine, in particular, has pushed back hard against the allegations. The company’s leadership maintains that price increases were driven by genuine supply shocks, including bird flu and broader inflation, rather than any collusion, and says internal communications cited in the complaint were being taken out of context. Cal-Maine also noted it exited the industry group referenced in the complaint back in May 2024, and said the DOJ isn’t imposing any separate fine or penalty on the company beyond the settlement terms.Versova, meanwhile, framed its decision to settle as a practical one — a way to move past the dispute rather than an acknowledgment of guilt.The case adds to a growing list of price-fixing and market manipulation investigations targeting the American food industry in recent years, as regulators face pressure to show they’re protecting consumers from corporate practices that quietly inflate everyday grocery bills.It’s also worth noting the scale of profits in play: Cal-Maine alone reported a profit of $1.22 billion for its 2025 fiscal year, a figure critics have pointed to while arguing that a $3.3 million settlement amounts to little more than a rounding error for companies of this size, rather than a real deterrent.For now, the settlement brings a partial close to a saga that exposed how a single pricing benchmark, one most consumers have never heard of, can quietly shape what an entire nation pays for something as ordinary as a dozen eggs.Add
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News on
Egg prices in USAEgg prices in USegg producers settlementegg prices todayegg prices USA
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News on
Egg prices in USAEgg prices in USegg producers settlementegg prices todayegg prices USA
Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories & personalised newsletters
Login Now
Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions & in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now
ET
Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL
15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers
Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00
I’d rather pay ₹2599 now
Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only
Worry not. You’re just a step away
Prime Account Detected!
It seems like you’re already an ETPrime member with
Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits
Log out of your current logged-in accountand log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits
Unlock ETPrime’s Exclusive Stories Today!
Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off
Student Only Offer
Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now
Offer Exclusively For You
Save up to Rs. 700/-
ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP
Avail Offer
Offer Exclusively For You
Get 1 Year Free
With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership
Avail Offer
Offer Exclusively For You
Get 1 Year Free
With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership
Avail Offer
Offer Exclusively For You
Get Flat 40% Off
Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year
Avail Offer
Offer Exclusively For You
ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month
Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year
Avail Offer
Special Offer
Get flat 40% off on ETPrime
Avail Offer
Avail Offer
Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now
‘;
});
}
if(listing) {
var h3 = “You tried reading ” + listArr.length + ” locked stories in the past ” + threshold + ” days.”, h4 = “Become an ET Prime member and don’t miss out on these exclusive stories.”;
var html =
‘
‘ + h3 + ‘
‘ + h4 + ‘
- ‘ + listing + ‘
‘;
$(‘#paidSCWidget’).html(html);
var callback = $(‘#paidSCWidget’).attr(‘data-callback’);
if(callback && window[callback]) {
window[callback]();
}
customDimension.dimension72 += ‘ | Shown SYFT no Trial_With Missed Paywalled Articles Collection’;
} else {
_processNormal()
}
}
});
} else {
_processNormal();
}
} catch (e) {
_processNormal();
}
}, function () {
_processNormal();
});
//console.log(‘storyCollectionLoad’, $);
}
What’s Included with
ETPrime Membership
1Exclusive Insights That Matter
Uncover the truth with our investigative stories
Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies
Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends
Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter
-
Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US
What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
-
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer
Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
-
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?
The problem with lab grown diamonds
-
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy
A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year
2Invest Wisely With Smart Market Tools & Investment Ideas
Alpha Trade
Get daily trade ideas from SEBI-registered research analysts
Investment Ideas
Grow your wealth with stock ideas & sectoral trends
Stock Reports Plus
All-in-one stock research with Stock Score, peer comparison & key signals
BigBull Portfolio
Get to know where the market bulls are investing to identify the right stocks
Stock Analyzer
Check the score based on the company’s fundamentals, solvency, growth, risk & ownership to decide the right stocks
Market Mood
Analyze the market sentiments & identify the trend reversal for strategic decisions
Stock Talk Live at 9 AM Daily
Ask your stock queries & get assured replies by ET appointed, SEBI registered experts
3Stay informed anytime, anywhere with ET ePaper
ePaper – Print View
Read the PDF version of ET newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime
ePaper – Digital View
Read your daily newspaper in Digital View & get it delivered to your inbox everyday
Wealth Edition
Manage your money efficiently with this weekly money management guide
4Times Of India Subscription (1 Year)
TOI ePaper
Read the PDF version of TOI newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime
Deep Explainers
Explore the In-depth explanation of complex topics for everyday life decisions
Health+ Stories
Get fitter with daily health insights committed to your well-being
Personal Finance+ Stories
Manage your wealth better with in-depth insights & updates on finance
New York Times Exclusives
Stay globally informed with exclusive story from New York Times
5Enjoy Complimentary Subscriptions From Top Brands
Docubay Subscription
Stream new documentaries from all across the world every day
Stories you might be interested in
