Tyson, Cargill $87.5M Beef Price-Fixing Settlement

Consumers who bought certain beef products for personal use between Aug. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2019, in select states or the District of Columbia may be eligible to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

Cargill Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc. agreed to pay a combined $87.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging they, along with other beef processors, engaged in anticompetitive practices that increased the prices consumers paid for beef. This settlement resolves claims against Cargill and Tyson only; other defendants have not settled.

Who can file a claim?

Individuals and businesses may be eligible to file a claim if they meet all of the following criteria:

• They purchased beef (fresh or frozen) made from chuck, loin, rib or round primal cuts.
• They purchased the beef for personal consumption (for themselves, family or friends) and not for resale or distribution.
• They purchased the beef indirectly (i.e., at a grocery store or supermarket and not directly from the defendants).
• They purchased the beef between Aug. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2019.
• They purchased the beef in one or more of the following states or jurisdictions: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia or Wisconsin.

The settlement covers a wide range of beef products but excludes certain specialty, premium and processed beef items. For example, it does not include beef marketed as USDA Prime, organic, 100% grass-fed, Wagyu, American-style Kobe beef, no antibiotics ever, antibiotic-free, kosher, halal, certified humane or any ground, marinated, seasoned, flavored, breaded or cooked beef.

Consumers who made qualifying purchases in more than one eligible state can include all such purchases in their claim.

How much can class members get?

The total settlement fund is $87.5 million. After deducting attorneys' fees, litigation costs, service awards for class representatives and administration expenses, the settlement administrator will distribute the remaining funds among approved claimants. The exact payment per claimant depends on the total number of valid claims and the amount of eligible purchases reported.

How to claim a class action rebate

To receive a payment, class members must submit a claim form by June 30, 2026. They can file the online claim form or download, print, complete and mail the PDF claim form to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Consumer Indirect Beef Litigation, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 3605, Portland OR, 97208-3605

Required information

All claimants must provide an estimate of how many pounds of eligible beef products they purchased on a monthly basis and how much they spent per month.

They do not need to provide any documentation at this time; however, the settlement administrator may ask for additional information or documentation to support their claim.

Payout options

• Amazon gift card
• Starbucks gift card
• Instacart gift card
• PayPal
• Venmo
• Physical mailed check

$87.5 million settlement fund

The $87,500,000 settlement fund covers:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $29,166,667
• Attorneys' expenses: Up to $15,000,000
• Service awards to class representatives: Up to $2,000 each
• Payments to eligible class members: The remainder of the fund after the above deductions

Important dates

• Deadline for exclusion: March 30, 2026
• Fairness hearing: May 12, 2026
• Deadline to file a claim: June 30, 2026

When is the consumer indirect purchaser beef litigation payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments after the court approves the settlement and resolves any appeals.

Why did this class action settlement happen?

The class action alleged that several major beef processors, including Cargill and Tyson, conspired to allocate markets and suppress competition, resulting in higher beef prices for consumers.

The companies deny any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of litigation.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Claim form
3. Settlement FAQ