McDonald’s Antitrust Case Against U.S. Beef Giants

The world”s largest fast-food company, McDonald’s, has filed a lawsuit accusing the four biggest U.S. beef processors of operating as a cartel and manipulating beef prices for almost a decade dating back to 2015. The suit frames the alleged conduct as a deliberate effort to drive up costs for ingredients used in burgers and other menu items across the company”s network. By keeping prices higher, the plaintiffs argue, the involved suppliers distorted a market that should be guided by open competition. The filing describes a strategy that appears coordinated across several firms and procurement cycles, with implications that reach beyond a single contract period. Supporters of the claim say the alleged scheme hurts the competitive forces that should normally govern commodity pricing in a country known for its scale. The complaint also seeks damages and a remedy intended to deter similar behavior in the future.