Utah Food Bank gets 1.5 million eggs from price-fixing deal

The Utah Food Bank received 1.5 million eggs on Monday, Oct. 5, from a price-fixing settlement with three egg producers.

Sandy-area families can access the eggs through the food bank's statewide partner network, which serves all 29 Utah counties.

The eggs come from a deal Utah Attorney General Derek Brown struck in June with Cal-Maine Foods, Versova Holdings and Hickman's Family Farms. The three companies allegedly coordinated to inflate egg prices rather than compete, according to ABC4. Utah and 16 other states, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, brought the lawsuit, Fox 13 reported.

Utah's share: 125,000 cartons of eggs for food banks and nonprofits, plus $93,000 for the state's antitrust enforcement. Nationally, the settlement required the companies to provide more than 53 million eggs and $3.3 million.

"Utah families paid more than they should have for eggs, all because a few companies decided to cheat rather than compete," Brown said. "I wanted our settlement to impact Utah families directly, instead of just sitting in a random government account."

The truckloads matter. The Attorney General's Office estimates roughly 533,000 Utahns are experiencing food insecurity, and eggs are among the most requested and most expensive pantry staples. Utah Food Bank President and CEO Ginette Bott said the eggs will be distributed through the food bank's network of partner agencies statewide.

The settlement also bars the three producers from sharing bid information or coordinating on prices or supply with competitors for five years. The companies must file annual compliance certifications.

How Sandy residents can find eggs

Sandy residents can find the nearest partner agency through the Utah Food Bank's online pantry finder by entering their zip code. Residents can also text their zip code to 801-845-2211 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or call 2-1-1. Each partner location is independently operated.

The Utah Food Bank distributed 69.6 million pounds of food last year, equivalent to 58 million meals, according to the organization's website.