US Justice Department criminally investigating beef companies, WSJ reports 

April 20 (Reuters) - ‌The U.S. ​Department ​of Justice's antitrust division is criminally investigating ‌the conduct of large meatpackers, the ⁠Wall Street Journal said on ‌Monday, citing people familiar ‌with the matter.

Last year, President Donald Trump accused meatpacking ​companies of driving up U.S. beef prices through manipulation ⁠and collusion and ordered the Justice Department ​to investigate.

The Justice Department disclosed an investigation of beef companies ​after Trump's call ‌for intervention. Officials, however, have not revealed that ⁠it is a criminal probe, WSJ reported.

The Justice Department did ⁠not immediately respond to a Reuters ​request for comment.

Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS USA and National Beef Packing Company slaughter ‌about 85% of U.S. grain-fattened cattle that become steaks, ‌beef roasts and other ⁠cuts of ‌meat in supermarkets.

(Reporting ​by Koyena Das in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh ‌Kuber)

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