McDonald’s claims the companies, including Cargill and National Beef Packing, systematically reduced production levels starting on January 1, 2015, in order to “artificially” drive up market prices. With significant control over the cattle and beef industry, the companies could manipulate prices at their will, the lawsuit says.

McDonald’s claimed major beef suppliers — including Tyson — fixed prices at artificially high levels in a conspiracy that violated federal antitrust laws, according to an explosive lawsuit. The burger-and-fries giant claimed the beef suppliers agreed to manipulate and fix prices at “supracompetitive levels,

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — McDonald’s is suing Tyson Foods and multiple other beef producers claiming price fixing on their products. The lawsuit, filed on October 4 in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York, names Tyson, Cargill Inc., JBS, and Swift Beef Company along with others as defendants.