Spotlight on food prices shines light on monopoly forces in grocery industry

WILLMAR, Minn. — A recent antitrust settlement casts light on how food industry consolidation is contributing to rising grocery prices across Minnesota and the nation.

The U.S. Justice Department and attorneys general from Minnesota and other states accused agricultural data company Agri Stats in federal court of sharing “sensitive” information among competing meat processors.

Under the a settlement announced last month, the company will be prohibited from that type of dealing, which led to a three-fold increase in margins for turkey processors between 2013 and 2016, for example, according to the complain, which mentions Tyson, Sanderson Farms, Cargill, Butterball and JBS.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Minnesota by the U.S. Justice Department and attorneys general from Minnesota, California, North Carolina and Tennessee.

“It is illegal for rival businesses to conspire with one another ...