(NEXSTAR) — If you purchased select beef products in one of 26 states (plus the District of Columbia) during a specific timeline, you may be eligible to receive part of an $87.5 million settlement reached with the nation’s biggest beef processors.
According to a website established for the settlement, the antitrust class action lawsuit was brought against “several beef processors,” including Tyson Foods, Cargill, National Beef, and JBS, by a group of consumers. Those consumers accused the companies of entering “into a market allocation agreement” that allowed them to “stop competing against each other for market share.”
“The alleged purpose and effect of this agreement was to increase their margins and increase the price consumers paid for beef,” a press release issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota explained.
Though the beef processors have not admitted any wrongdoing, and the court has not ruled that they did anything wrong, Tyson Foods and Cargill have agreed to settlements of $55 million and $32.5 million, respectively, to resolve the claims. The combined $87.5 million will contribute to cash payments for customers who purchased any of the more than 280 types of beef outlined in the settlement.
Here’s what to know.
Who qualifies in the ‘Overcharged for Beef’ settlement?
This will depend on three things: what type of beef product or products you purchased, and when and where you purchased them.
The beef products, which were sold as fresh and frozen options, include chuck, loin, rib, and round primal cuts, must have been purchased from a grocery store or supermarket, not directly from the beef processors, for “personal consumption” between August 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019.
The store you purchased the meat from must be located in any of the following states or the District of Columbia: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
If you work for any of the defendants in the case, or are otherwise associated with the case, you are likely excluded from receiving any payment.
Which beef products are included?
More than 280 cuts of beef are considered qualifying purchases for this class action lawsuit.
Administrators say excluded cuts include any that were marketed as:
- Premium: USDA Prime, organic, 100% grass-fed, Wagyu, “American-Style Kobe Beef”
- Specialty: No Antibiotics Ever (“NAE”), antibiotic-free, kosher, halal, certified humane
- Processed: Ground, marinated, seasoned, flavored, breaded, or cooked beef.
You can search for eligible cuts at OverchargedForBeef.com.
How do I submit a claim, and how much will I receive?
You’ll need to submit a claim before the June 30, 2026, deadline. That can be completed online here, or by mailing in your form.
To submit an online claim, you’ll be asked to provide your name, address, email, and phone number. Then you’ll have to complete a questionnaire regarding whether you purchased any of the qualifying cuts of beef, including how many pounds and how much you spent on them on a monthly basis.
You will then be asked if you prefer to receive a check by mail, or via an electronic payment method. Options include a PayPal or Venmo account, or a digital gift card for Amazon, Instacart, or Starbucks.
The cash payments will be pro-rata, varying based on the amount of qualifying beef you purchased. A judge has yet to approve these settlements, and payments won’t be available until after that, officials noted. Any objections to the case could also delay payments.
What else should I know?
If you submit a claim, you give up your right to sue Tyson and Cargill over the same allegations made within this lawsuit. If you want to object to the settlement, you have until March 30, 2026, to submit your written objection.
A fairness hearing is scheduled for May 12, 2026, which means any settlement payments likely wouldn’t be sent out until this summer at the earliest.