Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has confirmed that federal investigators have sifted through over 3 million documents and conducted interviews across the cattle and beef industry to examine potential price-fixing, bid-rigging and market-allocation schemes involving Tyson Foods and three other major processors. The probe includes a DOJ whistleblower program offering informants between 15% and 30% of any criminal penalty exceeding $1 million, incentivizing disclosures of collusion.

Tyson Foods, along with JBS, Cargill and National Beef, now controls more than 85% of U.S. beef processing capacity, up sharply from a 25% share in 1977. The national cattle herd has declined to roughly 86.2 million head—its lowest since the 1950s—while the average ground beef price reached about $6.70 per pound in March, underscoring tight supply and concentrated market power.

Officials have not provided a timetable for potential charges, noting that civil and criminal investigations can proceed simultaneously. Tyson Foods faces heightened regulatory risk, with the prospect of substantial fines and operational scrutiny that could affect its cost structure, producer relationships and investor confidence.