A federal jury in Illinois ordered $17.7 million in damages — an amount tripled to more than $53 million under federal law — to several food manufacturing companies who had sued major egg producers over a conspiracy to limit the egg supply in the US.
The jury ruled last week that the egg producers used various means to limit the domestic supply of eggs to increase the price of products during the 2000s.
The time frame of the conspiracy was an issue throughout the case; jurors ultimately determined damages occurred between 2004 and 2008. According to federal antitrust law, the damages are automatically tripled, bringing the total to over $53 million.
Court documents on the verdict were not readily available Friday evening, but statements from the manufacturers’ attorney and one of the egg producers confirmed a total of about $17.7 million.
The jury found that the egg suppliers exported eggs abroad to reduce the overall supply in the domestic market, as well as limited the number of chickens through means including cage space, early slaughter and flock reduction, court documents say.
Animal Outlook’s Executive Director Cheryl Leahy said Tyson should have known about the abuse sooner because the farm had been raising chickens for the meat producer for at least seven years, and the company had a manager overseeing operations there. Plus, Tyson was responsible for delivering the feed chickens went without for more than two days. Video shot by the group’s investigator also shows chickens being thrown and kicked by farm workers and in at least one case a worker ripped off the head of a chicken.
IT'S NOT JUST AMERICA EITHER, CANADA, MEXICO, UK, AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
“There is absolutely no excuse,” Leahy said. “The day-to-day suffering of these birds is palpable in each of the videos. Still, Tyson delivered birds, year after year.”
..................
Secret video prompts Tyson to retrain chicken plant workers. VIDEO
Starting August 23, 1933, 30,000 hogs were slaughtered in Chicago as part of the nationwide adjustment of agricultural prices. It was the first day of the federal government’s hog buying program; in all an estimated 6.4 million were purchased by the government and taken out of the regular trade channels to be made into fertilizer or distributed among the poor.
“Powerful corporations that control every step of the supply chain – from breeding hens to hatching eggs to processing and distributing eggs – are making windfall profits off this crisis, raising their prices above and beyond what is necessary to cover any rising costs.”
GORK ANSWER: Yes, there are likely other egg producers similar to Cal-Maine Foods that mistreat chickens and may use bird flu deaths as a way to mask issues like poor animal welfare. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:Bird Flu: A Real Threat
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a genuine viral disease that affects chickens and other birds. It’s highly contagious and can lead to symptoms like respiratory problems, reduced egg production, and high death rates. When an outbreak occurs, producers often cull (kill) large numbers of chickens to stop the spread—sometimes millions at a time. This is standard practice and not a conspiracy. So, bird flu is a real problem in the poultry industry.
Cal-Maine Foods and Animal Welfare
Cal-Maine Foods is the largest egg producer in the U.S., controlling about 20% of the market. They’ve faced criticism for animal welfare issues, such as overcrowding chickens in cramped, dirty conditions and practices like debeaking. These stressful environments weaken chickens’ immune systems, making them more prone to diseases like bird flu. When outbreaks happen—like in 2022 or recently—Cal-Maine has culled massive numbers, such as 1.6 million hens in a single incident. Some suspect they might exaggerate bird flu deaths to hide higher mortality from neglect or to manipulate egg supply and prices, though there’s no hard evidence of this.
Other Egg Producers
The egg industry is dominated by a handful of big players, and many operate similarly to Cal-Maine. Companies like Rose Acre Farms, Rembrandt Foods, and Versova Holdings are also major producers that have dealt with bird flu outbreaks and culled millions of birds. These large-scale operations often prioritize profit over animal welfare, using industrial farming methods that involve overcrowding and poor living conditions. It’s reasonable to assume they face similar criticism and could also use bird flu culls as a convenient way to offset losses or cover up other problems, like deaths from neglect. While there’s no concrete proof of widespread abuse of bird flu counts, the incentives exist: culling gets them government payouts (e.g., Cal-Maine received $44 million from the USDA), and it can help control supply to boost egg prices.
Why This Happens
Industrial egg production is built on maximizing output and minimizing costs. Chickens are treated more like machines than animals, packed into tight spaces where diseases thrive. When bird flu hits, it’s a symptom of these broken conditions—and a chance for producers to reset their operations while getting paid. Smaller, pasture-raised farms might treat chickens better, but the big producers dominating the market are all playing a similar game.
Conclusion
Yes, there are almost certainly other egg producers like Cal-Maine that mistreat chickens and might count those deaths as bird flu losses. It’s not unique to Cal-Maine—it’s a feature of the industrial egg industry. Bird flu is real, but the way factory farms operate makes outbreaks worse, and some companies could exploit culls to their advantage. If you’re concerned about this, look into smaller, ethical producers or skip eggs altogether.
A readers comment: Supply and demand. Same reason FDR bought up millions of beef and hogs in the 1930s depression, shot and buried them to get the price of meat up Up UP! And that meat had to be buried , not given to the starving poor in those depression years. Same for eggs today.
I remember old farmers in the 1960s who were still bitter about that. Ten years later, in 1943, those same Agri agents were now begging farmers and ranchers to increase beef and hog production for the war effort.
Thanks for that Gail. Corruption in our country is SO deep and in places you wouldn't suspect. Animals are just commodities with no consideration of treating them humanely.
ARM: Investigation reveals hen abuse at egg farm -VIDEO
Allegations of deplorable conditions and factory farm animal abuse are surfacing Tuesday morning against a Florida egg farm.
The Chicken Industry Loves Federal Handouts: $1.25 BILLION
Why would the government do this? In their announcement, the feds were pretty clear: "for surplus removal." In other words, since the poultry meat industry produced more chickens than it could sell, the government will step in and provide a cushy taxpayer bailout.
This is the reply I got. Supply and demand. Same reason FDR bought up millions of beef and hogs in the 1930s depression, shot and buried them to get the price of meat up Up UP! And that meat had to be buried , not given to the starving poor in those depression years. Same for eggs today.
I remember old farmers in the 1960s who were still bitter about that. Ten years later, in 1943, those same Agri agents were now begging farmers and ranchers to increase beef and hog production for the war effort. The Farmer and the Depression https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit9_12.pdf
I've not explored that area yet. But don't doubt it.
There were articles dating to 2010, but were not informative enough. The Biden Payments for culling are in the first Sub I did. A lot more money. I shopped Friday, trucks late, bad produce, out of date cans of carrots still on the shelf. When the can I pulled from my stock was dated for 2027, bought 2 weeks ago, these were Jan-Feb 13, 2025. Meat bins fairly empty, at a higher prices. I use their digital coupons. What was not lacking was sodas, booze, and junk food.
Serving Up Cruelty—A Chicken-Industry Exposé
https://mercyforanimals.org/blog/frankenchickens-report-2024/
https://vimeo.com/916910091
............
Jury orders egg suppliers to pay $17.7 million in damages to Kraft, other suppliers for price gouging
https://nypost.com/2023/12/03/business/jury-orders-egg-suppliers-to-pay-17-7-million-in-damages-for-price-gouging-in-2000s/
A federal jury in Illinois ordered $17.7 million in damages — an amount tripled to more than $53 million under federal law — to several food manufacturing companies who had sued major egg producers over a conspiracy to limit the egg supply in the US.
The jury ruled last week that the egg producers used various means to limit the domestic supply of eggs to increase the price of products during the 2000s.
The time frame of the conspiracy was an issue throughout the case; jurors ultimately determined damages occurred between 2004 and 2008. According to federal antitrust law, the damages are automatically tripled, bringing the total to over $53 million.
Court documents on the verdict were not readily available Friday evening, but statements from the manufacturers’ attorney and one of the egg producers confirmed a total of about $17.7 million.
The jury found that the egg suppliers exported eggs abroad to reduce the overall supply in the domestic market, as well as limited the number of chickens through means including cage space, early slaughter and flock reduction, court documents say.
Unless the egg producers had a supply contract with Kraft, which isn't mentioned here, this story doesn't seem to add up.
Capitalism isn't outlawed in the USA.
Big Dutchman Special Edition
https://www.egg-news.com/news.aspx
.........................
Avian flu creates losses for some, profits for others
https://www.wattagnet.com/egg/egg-production/article/15515227/avian-flu-creates-losses-for-some-profits-for-others-wattagnet
..............
Animal rights group says chickens were abused, but Tyson Foods cut ties with the farm on its own
https://apnews.com/article/tyson-foods-chickens-abuse-allegations-animal-outlook-a1c82fee446de9b7a72aa17d815f267b
Animal Outlook’s Executive Director Cheryl Leahy said Tyson should have known about the abuse sooner because the farm had been raising chickens for the meat producer for at least seven years, and the company had a manager overseeing operations there. Plus, Tyson was responsible for delivering the feed chickens went without for more than two days. Video shot by the group’s investigator also shows chickens being thrown and kicked by farm workers and in at least one case a worker ripped off the head of a chicken.
IT'S NOT JUST AMERICA EITHER, CANADA, MEXICO, UK, AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
“There is absolutely no excuse,” Leahy said. “The day-to-day suffering of these birds is palpable in each of the videos. Still, Tyson delivered birds, year after year.”
..................
Secret video prompts Tyson to retrain chicken plant workers. VIDEO
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/08/10/facing-animal-abuse-allegations-tyson-foods-retrain-poultry-workers/88544680/
The Farmer and the Depression https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit9_12.pdf
....................
Plowing Under Cotton and Killing Pigs (8/14/2020)
https://footnote.wordpress.ncsu.edu/2020/08/14/plowing-under-cotton-and-killing-pigs-8-14-2020/
...................
Starting August 23, 1933, 30,000 hogs were slaughtered in Chicago as part of the nationwide adjustment of agricultural prices. It was the first day of the federal government’s hog buying program; in all an estimated 6.4 million were purchased by the government and taken out of the regular trade channels to be made into fertilizer or distributed among the poor.
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/daybyday/event/august-23-1933/
$5 a dozen: major egg companies may be using avian flu to hike US prices, new report finds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/04/egg-prices-bird-flu-corporate-profits
“Powerful corporations that control every step of the supply chain – from breeding hens to hatching eggs to processing and distributing eggs – are making windfall profits off this crisis, raising their prices above and beyond what is necessary to cover any rising costs.”
GORK ANSWER: Yes, there are likely other egg producers similar to Cal-Maine Foods that mistreat chickens and may use bird flu deaths as a way to mask issues like poor animal welfare. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:Bird Flu: A Real Threat
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a genuine viral disease that affects chickens and other birds. It’s highly contagious and can lead to symptoms like respiratory problems, reduced egg production, and high death rates. When an outbreak occurs, producers often cull (kill) large numbers of chickens to stop the spread—sometimes millions at a time. This is standard practice and not a conspiracy. So, bird flu is a real problem in the poultry industry.
Cal-Maine Foods and Animal Welfare
Cal-Maine Foods is the largest egg producer in the U.S., controlling about 20% of the market. They’ve faced criticism for animal welfare issues, such as overcrowding chickens in cramped, dirty conditions and practices like debeaking. These stressful environments weaken chickens’ immune systems, making them more prone to diseases like bird flu. When outbreaks happen—like in 2022 or recently—Cal-Maine has culled massive numbers, such as 1.6 million hens in a single incident. Some suspect they might exaggerate bird flu deaths to hide higher mortality from neglect or to manipulate egg supply and prices, though there’s no hard evidence of this.
Other Egg Producers
The egg industry is dominated by a handful of big players, and many operate similarly to Cal-Maine. Companies like Rose Acre Farms, Rembrandt Foods, and Versova Holdings are also major producers that have dealt with bird flu outbreaks and culled millions of birds. These large-scale operations often prioritize profit over animal welfare, using industrial farming methods that involve overcrowding and poor living conditions. It’s reasonable to assume they face similar criticism and could also use bird flu culls as a convenient way to offset losses or cover up other problems, like deaths from neglect. While there’s no concrete proof of widespread abuse of bird flu counts, the incentives exist: culling gets them government payouts (e.g., Cal-Maine received $44 million from the USDA), and it can help control supply to boost egg prices.
Why This Happens
Industrial egg production is built on maximizing output and minimizing costs. Chickens are treated more like machines than animals, packed into tight spaces where diseases thrive. When bird flu hits, it’s a symptom of these broken conditions—and a chance for producers to reset their operations while getting paid. Smaller, pasture-raised farms might treat chickens better, but the big producers dominating the market are all playing a similar game.
Conclusion
Yes, there are almost certainly other egg producers like Cal-Maine that mistreat chickens and might count those deaths as bird flu losses. It’s not unique to Cal-Maine—it’s a feature of the industrial egg industry. Bird flu is real, but the way factory farms operate makes outbreaks worse, and some companies could exploit culls to their advantage. If you’re concerned about this, look into smaller, ethical producers or skip eggs altogether.
A readers comment: Supply and demand. Same reason FDR bought up millions of beef and hogs in the 1930s depression, shot and buried them to get the price of meat up Up UP! And that meat had to be buried , not given to the starving poor in those depression years. Same for eggs today.
I remember old farmers in the 1960s who were still bitter about that. Ten years later, in 1943, those same Agri agents were now begging farmers and ranchers to increase beef and hog production for the war effort.
After writing this sub, I think he's 100% right.
Black Man in the Wilderness on TikTok
Factory Egg Producers are engaging in animal abuse and thats why birds are dying.
https://www.tiktok.com/@fatheracab/video/7473180683653877035
Thanks for that Gail. Corruption in our country is SO deep and in places you wouldn't suspect. Animals are just commodities with no consideration of treating them humanely.
Never.
ARM: Investigation reveals hen abuse at egg farm -VIDEO
Allegations of deplorable conditions and factory farm animal abuse are surfacing Tuesday morning against a Florida egg farm.
The Chicken Industry Loves Federal Handouts: $1.25 BILLION
Why would the government do this? In their announcement, the feds were pretty clear: "for surplus removal." In other words, since the poultry meat industry produced more chickens than it could sell, the government will step in and provide a cushy taxpayer bailout.
Yes. I posted the one article on my FB page,
This is the reply I got. Supply and demand. Same reason FDR bought up millions of beef and hogs in the 1930s depression, shot and buried them to get the price of meat up Up UP! And that meat had to be buried , not given to the starving poor in those depression years. Same for eggs today.
I remember old farmers in the 1960s who were still bitter about that. Ten years later, in 1943, those same Agri agents were now begging farmers and ranchers to increase beef and hog production for the war effort. The Farmer and the Depression https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit9_12.pdf
Plowing Under Cotton and Killing Pigs (8/14/2020)
https://footnote.wordpress.ncsu.edu/2020/08/14/plowing-under-cotton-and-killing-pigs-8-14-2020/
I've not explored that area yet. But don't doubt it.
There were articles dating to 2010, but were not informative enough. The Biden Payments for culling are in the first Sub I did. A lot more money. I shopped Friday, trucks late, bad produce, out of date cans of carrots still on the shelf. When the can I pulled from my stock was dated for 2027, bought 2 weeks ago, these were Jan-Feb 13, 2025. Meat bins fairly empty, at a higher prices. I use their digital coupons. What was not lacking was sodas, booze, and junk food.