Free eggs coming after investigation reveals price collusion among producers
Eggs stocked at Stew Leonard's in Farmingdale in January. Credit: Barry Sloan
A multistate bipartisan investigation into the nationwide manipulation of egg prices has resulted in a settlement this week that includes free eggs for consumers in 17 states.
The U.S. Department of Justice, in conjunction with the New York State Attorney General's Office and other out-of-state agencies, secured more than 50 million eggs and $3.3 million in remediation, officials announced.
In a statement Tuesday, state Attorney General Letitia James said three producers, identified as Maine Foods, Versova-Centrum and Hickman's Egg Ranch, "illegally coordinated for years" to influence the daily price index of eggs, artificially increasing prices for retailers and consumers nationwide.
The states involved in the investigation and subsequent settlement will receive 53 million eggs — 4.9 million to be delivered directly to food banks and community organizations serving New Yorkers, James said.
The investigation found that between June 2022 and March 2025 the egg producers "secretly communicated with each other" to coordinate bidding activities in order to influence the daily price quotes for eggs as published by Urner Barry, the "benchmark pricing service" providing a daily Egg Price Index used by the egg supply industry.
The investigation revealed correspondence in December 2022 that saw the CEO of Hickman's email executives at Versova-Centrum and Cal-Maine "urging them" to submit what was described as "strong bids, early and often" — all, in order to push the price of eggs higher, the attorney general's office said
As a result of the three companies submitting "dozens of bids at higher prices," the attorney general's office said Urner Barry then increased its price quotes to egg buyers.
"When powerful corporations collude behind the scenes to raise prices, working families suffer the costs," James said in a statement Tuesday. "These egg producers manipulated the market to squeeze even more profit out of consumers and businesses. By shutting this scheme down and delivering millions of eggs to those in need, we're sending a clear message that companies will not get away with illegal price hikes in New York."
Under terms of the settlement, the three companies "must end" illegal coordination to manipulate prices, as well as adopt compliance measures to prevent future violations while providing full cooperation with state watchdogs, the attorney general's office said.
The three companies also must designate antitrust compliance officers to monitor for violations of the settlement and report violations to the states and Department of Justice.
The state attorney general's office said the 53 million donated eggs "will be provided at the companies’ expense" to food banks and nonprofit organizations operating in the participating states. Those eggs "must meet all food safety and regulatory standards."
In addition to New York, the states involved in the settlement include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin.
The companies will also pay the combined $3.3 million settlement to the states.
John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.
