Canadians who made beef purchases post-2015 may qualify for a portion of around $8 million in connection with a proposed resolution with firms over claims of price manipulation. Several Canadian law firms disclosed that JBS USA Company, Swift Beef Company, JBS Packerland Inc., and JBS Canada ULC have consented to pay $7.49 million, while National Beef has agreed to pay $495,000.
The settlement is pending court approval and does not imply acknowledgment of misconduct by the companies. A settlement hearing for individuals in all provinces except Quebec is set for September 10, with the Quebec hearing scheduled for December 1 this year.
The class-action lawsuit, initiated in 2022, alleges that beef-selling companies engaged in an illicit scheme concerning the supply or pricing of beef in Canada.
The settlement initiative was presented by various legal teams, including CFM Lawyers LLP in British Columbia, Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP in Ontario, and Belleau Lapointe LLP in Quebec.
Notably, the settlement excludes beef items and beef bought by the food service sector, like restaurants.
Ongoing class actions target specific defendants from Cargill and Tyson companies. Canadians eligible for opting out, a prerequisite for initiating an individual lawsuit, must do so by August 10.
This resolution regarding beef follows earlier compensations distributed to Canadians in May linked to a bread price-fixing class action involving multiple entities. Loblaws and its parent company, George Weston Ltd., settled the class action in 2024 by agreeing to pay $500 million, allowing any Canadian bread buyers between 2001 and 2021 to seek compensation.