Ken Paxton and Trump Administration’s Department of Justice secure major settlement aimed at lowering grocery prices for American families

Texas – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a major antitrust settlement involving Agri Stats that state and federal officials say could help lower grocery prices for millions of Americans by restoring competition within the meat processing industry.

The settlement was reached through cooperation between Paxton’s office and the United States Department of Justice under President Donald Trump. Officials described the agreement as one of the most significant enforcement actions taken against alleged anticompetitive behavior in the agriculture sector in recent years.

According to investigators, Agri Stats was accused of helping meat processors share confidential and competitively sensitive information involving pricing strategies, costs, and operations. Authorities said that information-sharing system allowed competing companies to monitor each other closely, reducing fair market competition and making it easier for companies to coordinate price increases.

Officials argued that the alleged conduct contributed to rising costs for products such as chicken, pork, and turkey, ultimately placing a heavier burden on American consumers already struggling with grocery expenses.

“Americans deserve fairly priced groceries, and I am honored to have partnered with President Trump’s DOJ to lower the cost of chicken, pork, and turkey,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Agri Stats facilitated the sharing of information that killed true competition in pricing and raised the price of food for consumers. The company will now be held accountable for its antitrust violation, and American consumers will now have lower-priced groceries.”

Settlement Brings Major Industry Changes

Under the terms of the settlement, Agri Stats agreed to implement major changes to the way it gathers and distributes industry data. Officials said the company will face new restrictions regarding what information it can share and how it can distribute that information to companies within the meat processing industry.

The agreement also includes monetary payments to the participating states involved in the case.

State officials described the settlement as “industry-shifting,” arguing that it could change how competing businesses nationwide exchange sensitive business information in the future.

The agriculture industry has faced repeated scrutiny over antitrust concerns for years, particularly involving allegations that major companies coordinated prices or limited competition. Authorities believe the new settlement could become an important benchmark for future enforcement efforts involving agriculture and food pricing.

Paxton’s office also emphasized that the Texas attorney general continues to pursue several other investigations and legal battles tied to alleged anticompetitive conduct affecting farmers, food producers, and consumers.

Those efforts include ongoing investigations involving agriculture companies, lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers accused of harming competition, and inquiries into grocery stores’ use of pesticides on organic fruits and vegetables.

The attorney general’s office also recently secured a separate settlement involving egg producer Cal-Maine tied to allegations of price gouging.

Officials involved in the Agri Stats case argued that protecting competition in agriculture remains critical because food prices directly impact families across the country. By targeting conduct they believe distorted fair pricing, authorities said the settlement is intended to help create a more competitive marketplace while easing pressure on consumers facing higher grocery costs.