Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the U.S. Department of Justice secured a settlement with agricultural data broker Agri Stats, Inc. for facilitating the sharing of competitively sensitive information among meat processors, reducing competition and raising prices for chicken, pork, and turkey. Under the settlement, Agri Stats will implement industry-wide changes to its information distribution practices and make monetary payments to participating states. The settlement aims to restore competition in the agriculture industry and lower grocery prices for consumers.
Agri Stats, Inc. must implement significant changes to its information distribution practices, including restrictions on the type of competitively sensitive information it can share and how it distributes such information, to restore competition in the meat processing industry. The company will also pay monetary penalties to the states involved in the settlement. These changes are industry-wide and aimed at preventing future anticompetitive coordination among meat processors.
In-house legal teams should review all vendor agreements with data brokers, particularly those in the agricultural or food processing industries, to ensure restrictions on the sharing of competitively sensitive business information, including costs, pricing strategies, and operational data. Vendor contracts should include explicit prohibitions on sharing such information with the vendor’s other clients, especially direct competitors of the contracting entity, to avoid antitrust liability. Additionally, data processing agreements should include antitrust compliance clauses requiring vendors to certify they do not facilitate anticompetitive information sharing, and outline remedies for breaches of these restrictions. Teams should also review customer agreements with meat processors or agricultural clients to ensure their own data sharing practices do not run afoul of antitrust laws.
Entity
Agri Stats, Inc.
Industry
Data Broker"Agri Stats, Inc. (“Agri Stats”)"
"May 08, 2026"
"Attorney General Ken Paxton"
"secured a monumental settlement"
"Agri Stats facilitated the sharing of costs and other competitively-sensitive information among meat processors. This information allowed competitors to closely monitor one another’s operations and pricing strategies, which reduced competition and enabled coordinated price increases across the industry."
"Agri Stats has agreed to make industry-shifting changes to how it distributes information and what information it can distribute. The company will also make monetary payments to the states involved."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) over concerns that the organization may be promoting and recommending childhood vaccines for financial gain. The AAP has been issued a Civil Investigative Demand to determine the basis of its vaccine recommendations and whether they are influenced by financial incentives from pharmaceutical donors.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into major food manufacturers, including Frito Lay, Flora Food Group, and ACH Foods, over misleading 'heart healthy' labeling. The investigation will examine whether their advertising practices violate the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by misrepresenting the health value of their products. Civil Investigative Demands have been issued to these companies.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Lone Star Pups, LLC for misleading consumers about the origin and veterinary care of puppies sold online. The company allegedly misrepresents breeder certifications and a '10 Year Health Guarantee' with restrictive fine print. The investigation focuses on potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced industry-wide investigations into feminine care and cosmetic product brands, including Tampax, Kotex, L., and LOLA, over potential deceptive trade practices related to undisclosed toxic chemicals and heavy metals in their products. The investigations focus on whether consumers were misled about product safety and ingredient composition under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a consumer alert warning Texans about scams, fraudulent charities, and illegal price gouging related to severe flooding. The guidance provides resources for verifying charities and reporting suspected fraud or price gouging to the AG's office.
$150.0M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a $150 million multistate settlement against 23andMe following a 2023 data breach that exposed genetic and personal data of 6.9 million consumers. The settlement resolves bankruptcy claims and requires enhanced data security, risk assessments, and an independent advisory board, with immediate recovery of $18 million from bankruptcy funds.