ALBANY — A GROUP OF EGG PRODUCERS MUST DONATE 53 million eggs to states’ food banks and nonprofit organizations as part of a settlement with state Attorney General Letitia James and a bipartisan multi-state coalition. About 4.9 million of the eggs will be sent directly to community service organizations in New York.
James and the coalition on Monday secured the eggs and $3.3 million from some of the nation’s largest egg producers for colluding behind the scenes to raise prices.
The settlement results from an investigation alongside the U.S. Department of Justice, finding that Cal-Maine Foods, Versova/Centrum, and Hickman’s Egg Ranch for over three years illegally coordinated to influence a daily egg price index published by Urner Barry, a benchmark pricing service widely used in egg supply contracts. This index artificially increased prices for retailers and consumers nationwide.
The settlement requires all three companies to end such coordination, adopt compliance measures and fully cooperate with state oversight, among other measures. The companies must also provide at their expense 53 million eggs that meet all food safety and regulatory standards.
The combined $3.3 million in funds will be paid to the states.
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