DOJ Expands Beef Investigation to Retailers Amid Record High Ground Beef Prices

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is expanding its investigation into the beef industry to include major retailers such as Walmart, Costco, and Amazon. The investigation comes as ground beef prices have reached near-record highs, averaging $7.116 per pound in July.

The DOJ has demanded that these retailers provide years of pricing and profit data, including beef purchasing strategies, retail prices, costs, and profit margins. This move is part of the broader antitrust investigation into the US cattle and beef markets, which was announced in May.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has stated that the US had around 86.2 million cattle and calves at the start of the year, the lowest level since the 1950s. This low supply is adding pressure to beef prices, which are already near record highs.