JBS and National Beef have agreed to settle in a lawsuit brought by plaintiffs in Canada over alleged price-fixing in beef.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs said in a statement the meat processors had made the “proposed national settlements”.
“These class actions allege price fixing and related conduct in respect of the sale of beef in Canada,” a statement from CFM Lawyers, Strosberg Wingfield Sasso and Belleau Lapointe said.
However, they added: “The settlements are not an admission by JBS or National Beef of liability, fault, or wrongdoing, but are compromises of disputed claims. The settlements must be approved by the courts before they become effective.”
Just Food has asked JBS and MBRF Global Foods, the owner of National Beef, for comment.
A spokesperson for JBS responded: "This settlement agreement was reached more than a year ago and fully resolves all claims related to this matter in Canada. We believe the claims are without merit, and the agreement was entered into solely to avoid the expense and uncertainty of prolonged litigation."
According to the lawyers' statement, JBS has agreed to pay around C$7.5m (US$5.3m) for the “benefit of class members”, while National Beef has agreed to pay C$495,000.
The law firms suggested similar class actions are still ongoing against JBS’ peers Tyson Foods and Cargill.
“JBS and National Beef have agreed to provide co-operation to the plaintiffs in pursuing their claims against the non-settling defendants,” they added.
It said the cases relate to consumers in Canada who “purchased beef after January 1, 2015, excluding beef products and beef purchased from the foodservice industry”.
This publication has also contacted Tyson Foods and Cargill for comment on the proceedings.
The law firms said plaintiffs are able to opt out of the class action by 10 August if they so wish.
Persons eligible for opting out are those consumers in Canada who purchased beef for “resale or personal use between January 1 2015, and the date the class action in British Columbia is certified for settlement approval”.
And those who purchased beef in Quebec on the same principle.
The law firms defined beef in the lawsuit as raw beef intended for human consumption. The exempted ‘beef products’ were described as those that contain beef along with other ingredients.
