Beef Price-Fixing Settlement (Closed)

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Antitrust · Settlement Closed

$87.5M Consumer Beef Price Fixing Class Action Settlement

Published January 21, 2026
Updated July 1, 2026

The $87.5M Tyson and Cargill beef price-fixing fund paid pro rata cash to shoppers who bought beef in a listed state between 2014 and 2019 — but the June 30, 2026 claim deadline has passed and the settlement is now closed.

$87.5M consumer beef price-fixing class action settlement — Tyson and Cargill (closed)
Status Settlement Closed
Settlement Amount $87,500,000
Claim Form Deadline June 30, 2026 (passed)
Proof Required No no receipts required for most claims

What is the Beef Price Fixing Class Action About?

You may be part of a new $87,500,000 class action settlement after allegations were raised that consumer beef prices in stores were fixed.

The antitrust class action lawsuit claimed that major American beef processors, including JBS, Cargill, National Beef, and Tyson Foods, conspired with each other to stop competing for market share, raising beef prices on ordinary American consumers.

The beef price-fixing class action lawsuit says that the purpose and effect of monopolizing and agreeing not to compete for market prices was higher margins for the companies and higher prices paid by consumers for beef.

Tyson and Cargill deny wrongdoing, and the Court has not ruled that the beef companies did anything wrong. The Court granted final approval to the settlements on May 29, 2026. Important: the June 30, 2026 claim filing deadline has passed, so this settlement is now closed and no new claims can be filed.

Who Was Included in the Settlement?

You were included and eligible for a payment if you indirectly purchased eligible beef products for personal consumption between August 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019.

Indirectly purchased generally means you did not buy directly from one of the beef producers. Instead, like 99% of consumers, you bought it at a grocery store or supermarket in your everyday food purchases.

How Much Could You Get Paid?

Payments were a pro rata share of the settlement fund, based on how much eligible beef a class member purchased during the class period and how many valid claims were approved.

There was no fixed payout amount. Class members who bought more eligible beef than average could expect a higher payment; those who bought less, a lower one.

Most everyday grocery shoppers were expected to receive a modest payment, potentially ranging from a few dollars to several dozen dollars, depending on total claims and Court approved deductions.

Eligible Beef Products

Eligible products include beef (fresh or frozen) made from chuck, loin, rib, or round primal cuts.

Where You Must Have Purchased

The class action states purchases must have been made in one of the listed states and jurisdictions, sometimes referred to as Repealer Jurisdictions:

Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

What Beef Products Are Not Included?

The class action settlement notice says these beef products are excluded if they were marketed as:

Premium: USDA Prime, organic, 100% grass-fed, Wagyu, American-Style Kobe Beef.
Specialty: No Antibiotics Ever (NAE), antibiotic-free, kosher, halal, certified humane.
Processed: Ground, marinated, seasoned, flavored, breaded, or cooked beef.

How to File a Claim

To receive a payment, class members needed to submit a Claim Form with all required information by June 30, 2026, either online through the official settlement website or by mailing a claim form postmarked by the deadline. That deadline has passed, and the settlement is closed to new claims.

If you plan to file on behalf of someone else, the settlement administrator says documentation may be required to show you have authority to do so.

Do I Need Proof to File a Claim?

The beef class action lawsuit focuses on your estimated purchases during the class period. Many consumer settlements accept claims without receipts, but you should read the claim form instructions carefully and submit only truthful information. If you have documentation, you can keep it for your records in case the administrator requests follow-up.

Estimated Payment

If your claim is approved, payments will be a pro rata share of the net settlement fund after Court approved deductions for administration, lawyer fees, costs, and any service awards. The notice says your payment is expected to be proportional to the amount of eligible beef you purchased during the class period. The final amount depends on total valid claims.

Key Deadlines


• Claim submission deadline: June 30, 2026 (passed)
• Opt out deadline: March 30, 2026 (passed)
• Objection deadline: March 30, 2026 (passed)
• Fairness Hearing: held May 12, 2026 — final approval granted May 29, 2026

Case Overview

The case is titled In re: Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation. Consumer plaintiffs allege several major beef processors coordinated to limit competition and increase beef prices. Tyson and Cargill agreed to settlements totaling $87.5 million to resolve claims against them, while other defendants have not settled. The District of Minnesota granted final approval to the Tyson and Cargill settlements on May 29, 2026.



Official Settlement Website

The official settlement website was OverchargedForBeef.com. The claim, opt-out, and objection deadlines have all passed, and the site no longer accepts new submissions.

Official Settlement Notice

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Sources

• Official Settlement Website: www.OverchargedForBeef.com
• U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, In re: Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 0:22-MD-3031 (JRT/JFD)
• Capital Press: Judge approves $87.5 million beef antitrust settlement (May 29, 2026)

For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Status Closed — claim deadline June 30, 2026 has passed
Settlement Amount $87,500,000
Case Title In re: Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation
Case Number 0:22-MD-3031 (JRT/JFD)
Court U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Final Approval Granted May 29, 2026 (hearing held May 12, 2026)
Administrator Epiq Class Action and Claims Solutions, Inc.
Official Website Overcharged For Beef.com

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