Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods is under investigation by the Justice Department for its egg prices.
The company, which prides itself as the nation’s top egg producer and is headquartered in Ridgeland, announced Tuesday that it will cooperate with federal investigators over recent hikes in egg prices. Though record-high poultry costs have been attributed to the spread of bird flu, officials are looking to ensure that Cal-Maine did not use the epidemic as an excuse to price gouge consumers.
RELATED: Mississippi-based egg producer Cal-Maine sees bird flu outbreak at Texas facility
“In March 2025, the Company received a civil investigative demand in connection with a widely publicized investigation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice into the causes behind nationwide increases in egg prices,” a statement from Cal-Maine reads. “The Company is cooperating with the investigation.”
Back in February, egg prices reached record highs, nearing $6 per dozen nationally. The slaughtering of hundreds of millions of chickens across the U.S. was naturally blamed for the cost increases. However, Cal-Maine raked in profits and sold more eggs.
In its third-quarter report, the company announced bringing in $1.4 billion in net sales — nearly double the amount of money recorded this time last year — after selling a record 331.4 million dozen eggs. This resulted in Cal-Maine generating more than $509 million in profits. This time in 2024, the company turned a $147 million profit.
Meanwhile, officials will continue to investigate whether or not major egg producers conspired to raise prices or willfully hold back supply.
