Publix, Walmart, other grocers under investigation over beef prices

TAMPA, Fla. ( WFLA ) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is expanding its investigation into beef affordability in the U.S. to include eight of the largest grocers in the country.

Earlier this week, the DOJ posted to social platform X that its Antitrust Division sent letters to these eight grocers over the retail price of beef:

“Beef prices are a critical concern to Americans, and a priority for this Justice Department,” the department wrote.

Newsweek reported that the letters were dated in July and sought data in the companies’ records regarding retail sales and prices, costs and margins for beef products, their analyses of market trends and other information related to beef.

According to Reuters , the Antitrust Division began investigating meat packers after President Trump accused them of manipulating beef prices.

Tyson Foods, for example, settled a class action lawsuit earlier this year for $82.5 million after grocers accused the business of restricting supply to inflate U.S. beef prices.

Beef prices have been another issue plaguing the Trump administration, with the president saying in August that he would pause beef import tariffs to bring cheaper meat into the market.

“As we work to rebuild this herd and help our ranchers, for the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported with no out of quota tariff,” Trump wrote Aug. 21 on Truth Social.

“We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices. This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again,” he added at the time.

This has riled American beef herders and other Republican lawmakers who pushed against the plan, with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) calling it a mistake.

“If you think that providing subsidized beef for some period of time is going to make farmers happy and prices go down on a systemic basis, you’re wrong,” Tillis said. “It doesn’t happen.”

Publix and Walmart did not immediately respond to requests for comment.