[ceejayoz]

There's certainly evidence of collusion in the meat industry even pre-COVID.

https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-s-pric...

> The Attorney General’s Office asserts Tyson Foods and 18 other chicken producers drove up the price of chicken since at least 2008, causing consumers to overpay by millions of dollars. The lawsuit asserts a widespread illegal conspiracy to inflate and manipulate prices, rig contract bids, illegally exchange information and coordinate industry supply reductions to maximize profits.

> The Attorney General’s Office investigation found a coordinated, industry-wide effort to cut production through the exchange of competitively sensitive information, signals during investor calls and direct coordination between players in the industry.

[HDThoreaun]

$10.5 million over 14 years? That's what, half a cent per pound? probably less

[ceejayoz]

That's the settlement amount, from one state and for one type of chicken product, and merely one example of how the providers collude.

Until people start going to jail, these sorts of fines/settlements are just part of the cost of doing business. The profits from the scheme tend to outweigh the punishments, especially factoring in the probable times they don't get caught doing it.