$87 Million Beef Settlement Now Available to People Across 26 States

Consumers in 26 U.S. states may be eligible to claim part of an $87.5 million settlement involving major beef processors Tyson Foods and Cargill.

The agreement stems from a lawsuit accusing several large meat companies of secretly working together to inflate beef prices.

While National Beef and JBS were also named in the case, only Tyson and Cargill agreed to settle. Both companies have denied any wrongdoing, but together contributed the full settlement amount.

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim

To qualify, beef purchases must have been made at grocery stores or supermarkets—not directly from producers—and bought for personal use.

The purchases must have occurred between August 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019.

Only specific cuts qualify, including chunk, loin, rib, and round primal cuts that were bought fresh or frozen. Premium options like Wagyu, grass-fed, organic, and USDA Prime beef are excluded, along with ground beef and pre-seasoned or pre-cooked products.

The States Included in the Settlement

Eligibility depends heavily on where the beef was purchased.

The settlement applies to meat bought in 26 states, including California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

Additional qualifying states include Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Important Deadlines and Trade-Offs

Consumers have until June 30, 2026, to submit a claim through the settlement website. Filing a claim means giving up the right to sue Tyson Foods or Cargill in the future over the same issue.

Those who opt out keep their right to sue, while doing nothing also forfeits that right. Final payout amounts haven’t been determined yet and will depend on how many people file claims and how much qualifying beef they purchased during the covered years.