Tyson Chicken Price-Fixing Case: Federal Probe Ends, No Disciplinary Action

SPRINGDALE, AR — The Securities and Exchange Commission is no longer investigating accusations that Tyson Food engaged in price-fixing and the company probably won't face disciplinary action, Tyson said.

The Springdale, Arkansas-based meat producer received a letter from the agency saying the investigation ended and that enforcement action was unlikely, Arkansas Business reported Friday.

Investigators previously subpoenaed some records, Tyson said in a regulatory filing last year. Tyson said that at the time it believed the SEC was looking at allegations in a Maplevale Farms lawsuit filed last year that accused Tyson, Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Koch Foods Inc. and other chicken producers of scheming to keep the price of broiler chickens artificially high dating to at least early 2008. Separately, some shareholders said they lost money because of allegations that Tyson and its competitors suppressed the nation's poultry supply. A federal judge dismissed the shareholders' lawsuit last month.

Tyson shares closed Friday at $63.25 on Friday, down 61 cents. (For more information on the Tyson case and other Arkansas stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

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