H. Claire Brown. (2023, November 29.) The Chicken Tycoons vs. the Antitrust Hawks. Retrieved January 27, 2024 from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/29/magazine/chicken-industry-antitrust.html

In recent years, the chicken industry, particularly Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), has encountered issues and controversy. KFC sales generally peak around Mother’s Day in the year due to a tradition they created. However, in 2014, a chicken shortage issue developed as a result of a bid-rigging fraud in the poultry business. KFC solicited bids from major suppliers, but collaboration among them resulted in increased prices, causing complaints about unfair competition. In 2022, the Biden administration planned to address the meat industry challenges, noting inflation worries caused by rising beef, pork, and poultry costs. Despite efforts to charge executives for price fixing, a third trial in July 2022 resulted in an acquittal. The Biden administration also filed a civil complaint against poultry processors for wage reduction. This legal action aimed to combat unfair business practices and resulted in a $85 million compensation settlement. The article discusses the difficulties in implementing antitrust laws, limited success in achieving significant changes in the poultry industry, despite government interventions.

The ability of these organizations to avoid legal consequences does not surprise me, as it is consistent with a pattern in which many large corporations bypass accountability for their actions. This issue goes beyond just legal matters, such as the often-overlooked issues of animal abuse and environmental damage, which are especially common in large and popular fast food companies. The ability of these firms to avoid lawsuits indicates greater ability to cover up instances of animal cruelty and environmental damage. To solve this systemic issue, stricter laws governing animal production and care are essential. We can build a stronger foundation for ensuring animal welfare by enforcing stricter restrictions and consequences on how animals are treated in these businesses. Furthermore, improving restrictions around habitat degradation is also critical. This involves imposing strict standards on companies to prevent irreversible harm to ecosystems, holding them accountable for the environmental repercussions of their actions.