DOJ expands beef price investigation to major grocery retailers

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division announced on September 2, 2026, that it has expanded its investigation into beef affordability to include eight of the largest grocery retailers in the United States. This expansion follows an antitrust probe initiated in May into the 'Big Four' meatpackers — JBS, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef — which control over 85% of the US beef processing market. The retailers now under investigation are Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Albertsons, Aldi, Ahold Delhaize, Costco, and Amazon. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. sent letters to these companies regarding 'recent increases in the retail price for beef,' as stated by the Justice Department. The DOJ emphasized that beef prices are a critical concern for Americans and a priority for the department. Following the initial investigation into potential antitrust violations in US cattle and beef markets, the DOJ is reviewing over 3 million documents and interviewing industry participants to determine if concentration in the meatpacking industry has contributed to high beef prices. Attorney General Todd Blanche mentioned that whistleblowers could receive substantial rewards for information leading to successful enforcement actions, with potential recoveries of 15% to 30% of penalties exceeding $1 million. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins linked the probe to broader concerns about food security and noted that the US had approximately 86.2 million head of cattle and calves as of January 1, marking the lowest number since the 1950s. Last week, President Donald Trump announced plans to draft legal documents aimed at allowing farmers and ranchers 'the right to process their own food,' which he described as a move to address what he termed a 'nasty monopoly' in the meat industry. This announcement followed backlash from cattle producers and some Republicans regarding Trump's decision to permit more foreign beef imports, intended to alleviate pressure on consumers facing high prices at the meat counter. FOX Business has also contacted the retailers for comments.