US Justice Department criminally investigating beef companies, WSJ reports - Reuters

The US Justice Department is criminally investigating beef companies, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. This investigation targets potential anticompetitive practices within the highly consolidated beef industry. The inquiry suggests concerns about possible price fixing or other illegal activities that could harm consumers and cattle ranchers. This action follows previous scrutiny over the market power of a few large meatpackers. The criminal probe indicates a significant escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to address competition issues in key agricultural sectors.