MINNEAPOLIS — A US district judge ruled on March 31 that several large pork producers will need to face litigation accusing the companies of conspiring to manipulate pork prices and pork supply for consumers and other purchasers.

Judge John R. Tunheim of the US District Court of Minnesota explained in his order that there was enough evidence for a trial to move forward and decide antitrust claims.

Some defendants in the case include Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Smithfield Foods, Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods. Tunheim confirmed Hormel Foods was dismissed as a defendant. The companies listed as defendants have all denied wrongdoing.

“According to plaintiffs, defendants maintained the conspiracy by communicating with each other publicly and directly and by exchanging competitively sensitive, non-public information through Agri Stats,” the order said.

The order noted that Agri Stats would also face antitrust allegations regarding its possible role in the conspiracy.

The plaintiffs alleged the defendants coordinated the pork pricing between 2009 and 2018.

Other claims in the case include federal Sherman Act violations, plaintiffs brought up claims of various state laws and the Packers and Stockyard Act.

In recent years, several lawsuits have accused beef, pork and poultry producers of fixing market prices, resulting in some settlements and dismissals.

The price-fixing litigations, which date back to 2018, were officially consolidated in 2023 and transferred to Judge Tunheim in December 2022.

During May 2024, Tunheim approved settlements for certain Hormel cases involving pork products and pricing.