Marketing Meat

Union/management agreements in some cities, commercial bribery in the meat industry, and manipulation and fixing of meat prices present impediments to free trade in the marketing of meat.

Union/management collective bargaining agreements in some cities, mostly in the Midwest, restrict the sale of various forms of fabricated meat by meat packers to merchants and the hours during which retail stores may sell meat to consumers. The various restrictions, which appear to be on the decline, were estimated to affect less than 10 percent of the population. Commercial bribery is widespread in the meat industry. When it occurs, competition is limited, and consumers are likely to pay more for meat. Several pending court suits filed by cattle producers allege manipulation and fixing of meat prices by certain slaughterhouses, principal food chains, and a private meat-price reporting service.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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