The White House ordered an investigation into food price-fixing. Axios (AXE-ee-ohs) said President Donald Trump is facing rising pressure about the inflation of food prices at the nation’s grocery stores. The President issued an executive order last weekend directing the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to establish task forces on anti-competitive behavior in the food supply chain. The order directs them to specifically look at whether control of food-related industries by foreign entities is increasing the cost of food products in the U.S. or creating a national or economic security threat to Americans. The task forces are expected to be ready to brief Congressional leaders within six months. The order calls on the DOJ to pursue criminal charges if it finds evidence of price fixing in the U.S. food industry. Of the Big Four Meatpackers, two are subsidiaries of Brazilian companies, and Smithfield is controlled by China’s WH Group.
