{"id":2653616,"date":"2026-09-02T14:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T18:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-targets-walmart-costco-other-grocery-giants-in-beef-affordability-investigation\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T14:04:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T18:04:07","slug":"doj-targets-walmart-costco-other-grocery-giants-in-beef-affordability-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-targets-walmart-costco-other-grocery-giants-in-beef-affordability-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ Targets Walmart, Costco, Other Grocery Giants in Beef Affordability Investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-targets-walmart-costco-other-grocery-giants-in-beef-affordability-investigation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2653616&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses an examination by the U.S.Department of Justice into the rising prices of beef in the United States. The DOJ is examining eight major grocery chains-Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Albertsons, Aldi, Ahold Delhaize USA, Costco, and Amazon-for potential anti-competitive practices related to beef affordability. This follows an earlier probe into top meatpacking companies like JBS, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef, to investigate possible violations of antitrust laws.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Todd Blanche highlighted concerns about the industry&#8217;s high concentration, plant closures, and foreign ownership of some of the largest processors, suggesting these factors may facilitate anti-competitive behavior. The DOJ encourages whistleblowers to come forward with details, offering monetary rewards if their tips lead to meaningful legal penalties.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, former President Donald Trump voiced support for breaking up monopolistic practices in the beef industry, suggesting measures that would allow farmers and ranchers to process their own meat to reduce reliance on dominant processors. The ongoing investigations reflect a broader effort to address issues of market fairness and protect consumers from excessive prices.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it\u2019s investigating several major American grocers concerning massive spikes in beef prices.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c@JusticeATR has expanded its investigation to include 8 of the largest grocers when it comes to beef affordability,\u201d the DOJ posted on X.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c@ASGWoodward sent letters to the following regarding the recent increases in the retail price for beef: Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Albertsons, Aldi, Ahold Delhaize USA, Costco, Amazon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeef prices are a critical concern to Americans, and a priority for this Justice Department.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83d\udea8<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JusticeATR?\">@JusticeATR<\/a> has expanded its investigation to include 8 of the largest grocers when it comes to beef affordability. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ASGWoodward?\">@ASGWoodward<\/a> sent letters to the following regarding the recent increases in the retail price for beef:<\/p>\n<p>-Kroger<br \/> -Publix<br \/> -Walmart<br \/> -Albertsons<br \/> -Aldi<br \/> -Ahold\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheJusticeDept\/status\/2094959466194071943?\">September 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>This news comes nearly four months after the DOJ launched a probe against top meatpackers JBS, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef to investigate possible antitrust violations, Fox Business <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/retail\/doj-expands-beef-price-investigation-walmart-costco-amazon-other-major-retailers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Todd Blanche held a press conference back in May, revealing that federal officials have been examining three million pertinent documents while contacting \u201cindustry participants, including ranchers, cattlemen, producers, and processors,\u201d for potential interviews.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe president tasked the department to investigate the costs and prices of beef,\u201d Blanche said. \u201cAs a result, we prioritized investigating potential antitrust violations in U.S. cattle and beef markets. In the beef industry, the big four processors control over 85 percent of the beef processing market.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo of the big four are primarily foreign owned,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>The attorney general noted that plant closures, along with \u201cthe current market structure and high concentration in the industry,\u201d point toward \u201canti-competitive activity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also encouraged whistleblowers to speak out and said they could earn monetary rewards if their information proves useful.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the information you provide helps us secure a criminal penalty in excess of $1 million, you can be entitled to recover and receive 15-30 percent of the money that we recover,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6w0gyMuzIn4?si=TJplFlWI-bfyxjFF\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump addressed the issue with a  <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/117173109426335170\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> on Friday, saying he wants to break up monopolistic practices within the beef industry.<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t provide specifics, but said he would be \u201cauthorizing legal documents\u201d allowing farmers and ranchers to process their own beef.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRanchers and Farmers have always been a number one priority for me. They work very hard, are smart, efficient, and immaculately CLEAN, but for years I have heard that they have had a tremendous problem with the Big Processors, who many say are a nasty Monopoly,\u201d the commander in chief wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are, essentially, 4 of them, a very non competitive number, and they make life miserable for our wonderful Farmers and Ranchers, and I can\u2019t let that happen, can I?\u201d Trump continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, in order to break this powerful monopoly, with much of its ownership based outside of the U.S., I am authorizing legal documents to be drawn in order to allow Farmers and Ranchers to be given the right to PROCESS THEIR OWN FOOD.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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