JBS Expansion Would Damage U.S. Meat Industry, Claims Group

The acquisitions planned by a major U.S. beef packager — JBS Swift — will have far-reaching effects on the nation's meat packaging industry, according to industry members  that have voiced opposition to the deals.

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, 72 animal producer associations and agricultural, consumer interest and religious groups have outlined their concerns about JBS Swift's purchase of National Beef Packing, Smithfield Foods' beef operations and Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding.

The letter envisages that the merger, in reducing the number of major U.S. meat packers from five to three, would damage other players in the industry.

JBS last year acquired Swift & Co to form JBS USA, making it the third largest U.S. beef packer.

According to R-CALF, which represents U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues, if the new deal goes through JBS would become the largest beef packer in the US and the world, followed by Tyson Foods and Cargill Meat Solutions.

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