BROOKLYN — Meat giants Cargill Inc., JBS S.A., Tyson Foods Inc. and National Beef Packing Co. are once again subject to antitrust lawsuits accusing the companies of conspiring to fix beef prices.

Four complaints were filed against the companies with the US District Court of the Eastern District of New York on Dec. 29.

In the court documents filed by Quality Supply Chain Co-Op, Gordon Food Service Inc. and Glazier Foods Co., Target Corp., and BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc., the plaintiffs allege that the processors conspired to sell beef at prices artificially higher than the market demanded.

The beef buyers claim the price-fixing conspiracy dates back as early as Jan. 1, 2015.

The plaintiffs point to conversations between a former JBS Swift Beef employee and James Hooker, head of fabrication at a Swift plant, as evidence of collusion and a slaughter reduction agreement between the meat packers.

Similar allegations surrounding the Big Four include a recent lawsuit filed by Compass Group and one filed by a group of small food distributors in October 2023.

In 2020, the Department of Justice issued subpoenas to Cargill, JBS, Cargill and National Beef to investigate anticompetitive activity.