In settlements so far, Smithfield Foods has paid out $183 million for one lawsuit $75 million for a second and $42 million for a third, all related to pork. It is the largest pork producer and pork packer in the United States and is controlled by W.H.Foods, a company in China.
Also on pork price-fixing, JBS of Brazil paid $20 million to settle one class-action lawsuit and $12.75 million to settle another.
For poultry, many more companies have been involved in settlements so far.
Tyson paid $225.1 million for one, $10.5 million for another filed on behalf of farmers In Washington State and $99 million for a third.
Pilgrim’s Pride paid $110.5 million for one, $75 million for a second and $75.5 million for a third.
Peco paid $1.9 million, George’s $1.9 million plus an undisclosed amount for a second settlement reached recently, Fieldale $1.7 million and Mar-Jac $1 million.
Four companies have been accused of price-fixing in the beef industry.
So far only JBS has settled for $52.5 million.
In all of the class-action lawsuits, lawyers for those filing claims take a hefty chunk before the balance is passed on to those who filed the charges. In some cases, judges have awarded lawyers tens of millions of dollars.
