(NAFB.com) – The U.S. Department of Justice is preparing a potential antitrust lawsuit targeting major egg producers over alleged price coordination through an information service called Expana that benchmarks prices for the industry. Sources tell the Wall Street Journal that the civil case could involve companies such as Cal-Maine Foods and Versova, which saw significant price increases in 2024 and 2025 amid supply shortages linked to avian influenza. Investigators are examining whether the competing companies shared pricing data through Expana to influence industry benchmarks. “An egg case would show the Trump administration’s eagerness to focus its antitrust powers on food prices,” the Journal reported. While no final decision has been made, the Justice Department could file suit as soon as next month or reach a settlement. The companies maintain that higher prices reflect basic supply and demand dynamics rather than coordinated behavior.
