Episode Details

Three major egg producers are settling with the Justice Department and 17 states over alleged price-fixing that artificially inflated egg prices for consumers. Cal-Maine, Versova, and Hickman’s allegedly coordinated bids to Urner Barry, the industry’s price tracker, between late 2022 and early 2025 — a move that critics say stifled competition and drove up grocery bills. Though none admit wrongdoing, they’re paying $3.3 million and donating 53 million eggs to food banks, while implementing new antitrust rules. Consumer prices dropped after the probe began, hitting under $2.20 per dozen — even as bird flu hit supply chains. Cal-Maine, the only public company, posted $1.2B in profit last year. Advocates say the settlement’s too little, too late — especially as profits soared while shoppers paid the price. Court approval is still pending, but this could be the end of a years-long saga that shook the egg market.

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