A class action lawsuit was launched in Québec that alleges several meat processing corporations colluded to keep beef prices artificially high..A request for permission to take collective action was filed against four beef processors in Canada and the United States regarding an alleged conspiracy to fix meat prices. The class action request has not yet been authorized by the court..The litigation, filed by Québec law firm Belleau Lapointe, aims to achieve a ruling that will result in the claimants being awarded a financial payout equivalent to the sum profit that was the result of the alleged artificially inflated prices in the province of Québec..It is alleged the companies “conspired to unduly restrict competition related to the production, supply or sale of beef in Québec,” Belleau Lapointe said on its website..The request targets US beef processors and their Canadian subsidiaries, Cargill, JBS Food Company, Tyson Foods and National Beef Packing Company..These four beef giants, which control 85% of the Canadian market and 80% of the American market, have been allegedly plotting at least since 2015 to fix the price of beef..“In this time of high inflation, it is unacceptable to make the price of beef even more expensive than it already is. This situation affects everyone who buys this meat,” said Sylvie De Bellefeuille, lawyer and budget advisor at Option consommateurs, a Quebec-based non-profit consumer organization..Cargill said “the claims lack merit,” in an emailed statement to the Toronto Star..“We compete vigorously in the market and conduct ethical business, and we are confident in our efforts to maintain market integrity on behalf of our customers and consumers,” the Cargill statement said..Information provided by Statistics Canada noted the price of beef rose almost 17% in the last year in grocery stores..The class action includes anyone who purchased beef in Québec on or after Jan. 1, 2015..De Bellefeuille said Option consommateurs discovered the alleged price-fixing after learning of an ongoing class action being pursued in BC that alleges the same four beef packers have been involved in price fixing..For more information contact Belleau Lapointe directly..Amanda Brown is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.abrown@westernstandardonline.com.,.Twitter: @WS_JournoAmanda
