Koch Foods and the four execs charged separately with participating in a nationwide conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products.

DOJ alleges that Claxton and co-conspirators conspired to suppress and eliminate competition for sales of broiler chicken products.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has entered into a plea agreement with the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division.

Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS USA and National Beef sent investigative demands.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday will release a new but stripped-down antitrust rule regulating meat companies that’s far less sweeping than initial reforms that ran into strong opposition from businesses and Congress.

The USDA said that if Congress does not provide enough money for enforcing a new, sweeping antitrust rule for meat companies, it will abandon portions of the rule.