Food suppliers US Foods and Sysco have initiated separate lawsuits accusing numerous large poultry suppliers of colluding to manipulate wholesale chicken prices, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
The two companies, which are the largest food suppliers to U.S. restaurants in the country, alleged that the poultry processors, including Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride and Sanderson Farms, have artificially limited supplies and inflated prices for years, according to the report.
Shares of Tyson Foods fell more than 3 percent on Wednesday. Shares of Pilgrim’s Pride and Sanderson Farms both declined more than 4 percent.
“Complaints like these are common in antitrust litigation,” a Tyson Foods spokesman told CNBC. “Such complaints do not change our position that the claims are unfounded. We will continue to vigorously defend our company.”
US Foods, Sysco, Pilgrim’s Pride and Sanderson Farms did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for comment.
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