A proposed settlement of nearly $8 million has been put forward in a Canadian class-action lawsuit alleging price-fixing in the beef industry. If approved by the courts, the settlement could provide compensation to Canadians who purchased beef products between January 1, 2015, and the present day. The agreement involves JBS entities, including JBS USA Company, Swift Beef Company, JBS Packerland Inc., and JBS Canada ULC, who have agreed to pay $7.49 million, and National Beef Packing Company, which will contribute $495,000.
The class-action lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleges that these companies engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to fix, maintain, or lessen the production and supply of beef, and to stabilize or increase prices. These are allegations, and neither JBS nor National Beef have admitted to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The proposed settlement also includes provisions for these companies to cooperate with the ongoing legal actions against other defendants, including Cargill and Tyson.
Details on how eligible Canadians can claim a portion of the settlement are still forthcoming, with court approval hearings scheduled for September 10, 2026, in British Columbia and December 1, 2026, in Quebec. The settlement specifically excludes beef products purchased through the food service industry, such as restaurants. Canadians who wish to opt out of the class action have until August 10, 2026, to do so. This development follows a similar bread price-fixing class action settlement that has also seen Canadians receive compensation.
