A sharp and sustained increase in beef prices across the United States has prompted the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into the country's powerful meat industry, as federal authorities seek to determine whether the surge reflects normal market pressures or potentially illegal conduct by major producers.
The probe, which is being handled by the Justice Department's antitrust division, comes amid growing concern from consumers, lawmakers, and industry analysts over the rising cost of beef, a staple in American households that has become increasingly expensive over the past year, reported Reuters.
