Cal-Maine Foods controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Proposed settlement over egg-price reporting
A proposed settlement alleged coordinated bids to an egg-price reporting service between 2022 and 2025. The proposed agreement included monetary payments and egg donations, without an admission of wrongdoing, and remained subject to court approval.
2025
Egg-shortage profiteering and antitrust allegations
Watchdog reporting alleged that Cal-Maine and other large egg producers may have benefited improperly or coordinated during an avian-influenza-related egg shortage. The reference material states that the DOJ Antitrust Division investigated Cal-Maine.
2023
Egg-supply and price coordination liability
Cal-Maine was found liable in a lawsuit alleging that it and other egg-industry participants coordinated to reduce supply and raise prices between 2004 and 2008.
2020
COVID-19-era egg pricing litigation
A lawsuit challenged a reported increase in egg prices during the early COVID-19 period as unjustified. The case was dismissed in August 2020.
2018
Lake Wales Farm animal-welfare allegations
Animal Recovery Mission alleged poor living conditions and employee abuse at Lake Wales Farm. Investigations by the Polk County Sheriff's Department and USDA did not confirm the alleged abuse and reported compliance with AVMA poultry-euthanasia protocols.
Avian-influenza indemnity and depopulation controversy
The company received USDA indemnity payments for flocks destroyed because of avian influenza. Critics questioned the use of ventilation shutdown plus and the broader effects of flock depopulation and public compensation.