Senators Scrutinize Meat Packers’ Big Profits During Pandemic

Senators Scrutinize Meat Packers’ Big Profits During Pandemic
A shopper picks over the few items remaining in the meat section as people stock up on supplies amid CCP virus fears at a grocery store in Austin, Texas on March 13, 2020. Brad Brooks/File Photo/Reuters
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CHICAGO—U.S. senators are calling for investigations of record profit margins for beef processors like Tyson Foods and Cargill, after ranchers complained surging meat prices due to CCP virus hoarding did not translate into higher cattle prices.

Futures prices for cattle have tumbled during the outbreak, worrying farmers as the U.S. economy heads into a downturn and fueling questions about whether the market run by CME Group is an effective tool for risk management.