Canadians who made purchases of beef post-2015 may be entitled to a portion of nearly $8 million as part of a proposed resolution with companies implicated in price-fixing allegations. A joint statement from various Canadian legal firms revealed that JBS USA Company, Swift Beef Company, JBS Packerland Inc., and JBS Canada ULC have agreed to a payment of $7.49 million, while National Beef has consented to pay $495,000.
The settlement, which is subject to court approval, does not imply any admission of guilt by the companies. A settlement hearing for members in all provinces except Quebec is set for September 10, with the Quebec hearing scheduled for December 1 this year.
The class-action lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleges that beef-selling companies participated in an illicit conspiracy affecting the supply and pricing of beef in the Canadian market.
Legal teams including CFM Lawyers LLP in B.C., Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP in Ontario, and Belleau Lapointe LLP in Quebec spearheaded the settlement. It excludes beef products bought by the food service sector, such as restaurants.
The ongoing legal action involves Cargill and Tyson, with the settlement not encompassing these companies. Eligible Canadians who wish to opt out, a prerequisite should they intend to file an individual lawsuit, must do so by August 10.
This resolution regarding beef pricing follows an earlier payout to Canadians in May related to a bread price-fixing class action involving various companies. In 2024, Loblaw and its parent company George Weston Ltd. agreed to a $500 million settlement for the class action, enabling Canadians who purchased bread between 2001 and 2021 to seek compensation.