Cal-Maine denies wrongdoing and price effects
Cal-Maine FoodsEgg producer responding to the civil antitrust case
Cal-Maine denies unlawful conduct and says the communications cited in the complaint did not affect egg prices.
“The Company denies all wrongdoing and violations of law and continues to believe that such claims are baseless and that its conduct was lawful, appropriate and in the best interest of supplying eggs to the marketplace. Cal-Maine further maintains that the Company's communications cited in the complaint – which were made primarily by a single former employee – did not impact egg prices in any market.”
Official statement
Original text
Original text
Where this statement fits
Did Cal-Maine and other egg producers manipulate egg-price benchmarks?
The Justice Department and 17 states allege that major egg producers coordinated bids to inflate Urner Barry price quotations. Cal-Maine denies wrongdoing and says its communications did not affect egg prices. The filed complaint and proposed settlement do not resolve the disputed facts by trial.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Cal-Maine denies unlawful conduct and price effects while agreeing to compliance measures, egg donations and payments to states, subject to approvals.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Original text
About this source
The civil complaint in case 5:26-cv-04060 alleges coordinated bidding to manipulate egg-price benchmarks. Its allegations are contested.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Original text
About this source
The proposed consent judgment states that the parties consent without a trial, adjudication or admission. It is not an entered finding of liability.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Cal-Maine says it participated in a cage-free supply cooperative but left in May 2024, before the investigation.
After the quotation
The proposed consent judgment sets out compliance measures, egg donations and payments to states. It states that Cal-Maine consents without a trial, adjudication or admission of fact or law.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The company explicitly denies the alleged conduct and price effects; a settlement is not an admission.
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More from this case
Read the full caseJames accuses Cal-Maine, Versova and Hickman's of manipulating egg-price benchmarks
“These egg producers manipulated the market to squeeze even more profit out of consumers and businesses. By shutting this scheme down and delivering millions of eggs to those in need, we’re sending a clear message that companies will not get away with illegal price hikes in New York.”Read statement
DOJ alleges an unlawful agreement to manipulate egg-price benchmarks
United States Department of Justice
“Defendants’ agreement to manipulate the Urner Barry price quotations violates Section 1 of the Sherman Act and should be enjoined.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Cal-Maine denies wrongdoing and price effects". First published: 2026-10-19. Last updated: 2026-10-19. https://disputeindex.com/events/6069-cal-maine-denies-unlawful-conduct-and-says-the