Beef companies questioned

The United States Department of Justice has issued demands for information from Tyson Foods Inc., JBS SA, Cargill Inc. and National Beef Inc. as part of investigations into price fixing.

The news comes a day after a grand jury led to price-fixing charges against Pilgrim's Pride’s chief executive officer Jayson Penn, against Roger Austin, a former Pilgrim's executive, against Claxton Poultry president Mikell Fries, and against Scott Brady, a Claxton vice president.

If there is, indeed, price fixing among these companies, it holds implications for Canadian beef prices because of the open trade situation.