Texas Joins DOJ Beef Packing Antitrust Probe
Texas Joins DOJ Beef Packing Antitrust Probe
May 17, 2026
By Chris Moore
DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 3: GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton speaks to supporters at a watch party on March 3, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Paxton and incumbent John Cornyn will face off again in a run off. (Photo by Sergio Flores/Getty Images)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into the beef industry over potential anticompetitive conduct among the nation’s largest meatpackers, his office announced Friday.
Paxton said the investigation would be conducted alongside a separate antitrust probe announced by the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The investigation is focused on the highly concentrated beef packing sector, where four companies — JBS S.A., Tyson Fresh Meats, Cargill and National Beef Packing Co. — collectively control more than 85% of U.S. beef processing capacity, according to Paxton’s office.
The attorney general cited reports alleging the companies may have used their market power to suppress cattle prices paid to ranchers while increasing beef prices for consumers.
“These four firms have reaped enormous profits at the expense of Texas cattle ranchers and consumers nationwide,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement.
“Texans deserve fairly priced beef and our state’s cattle ranchers deserve to be paid fairly for their hard work,” Paxton said. “If major meatpackers manipulated the market to underpay ranchers while forcing families to pay higher prices at the grocery store, we will hold them accountable.”
Paxton said his office would investigate potential violations of antitrust law “to protect fair competition, ranchers, and Texas consumers.”