Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is pressing the Justice Department to heavily scrutinise the proposed acquisition by Tyson Foods of Hillshire Brands.
In a letter to the department, Sen Grassley said he was concerned about how the merger could increase concentration and decrease competition in the US pork industry.
He also said he was concerned about the impact on consumer choice and the price of pork.
“Independent, small producers have been to my office to express their own concern. In particular, they fear that Tyson could engage in the practice of ‘tie-in’ sales of sows with market hogs, which would put independent producers at a tremendous disadvantage as they look for markets for their sows,” Sen Grassley said.
Sen Grassley has worked to empower an agricultural perspective and expertise inside the anti-trust division of the Justice Department to ensure the unique aspects of agriculture are taken into consideration in cases such as this. He is the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction over anti-trust policy.
