**North Carolina Secures 3 Million Eggs for Food Banks After Attorney General Exposes Price-Fixing Scheme**

In a major victory for North Carolina families struggling with rising grocery costs, Attorney General Jeff Jackson has secured nearly 3 million eggs for the state’s food banks following a settlement with major egg producers accused of artificially inflating prices.

The settlement resolves allegations that three of the nation’s largest egg producers—Cal-Maine Foods, Hickman’s Family Farms, and Versova—violated federal antitrust laws by conspiring to manipulate industry costs and drive up egg prices between 2022 and 2025. The companies allegedly worked together to reduce the egg supply and coordinate pricing strategies, making eggs unaffordable for countless American households during a period when families were already facing economic pressure.

Jackson joined 16 other bipartisan state attorneys general in pursuing the case, which resulted in a nationwide agreement requiring the producers to donate 50 million eggs to food banks across the country by October 2026. North Carolina will receive approximately 3 million of those eggs, providing critical nutrition assistance to communities in need.

The first shipment has already arrived. On August 18, 2026, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh received 270,000 eggs, marking the beginning of a series of deliveries. Additional shipments have followed, including nearly 300,000 eggs delivered to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina in Winston-Salem, where Jackson personally joined food bank leaders to celebrate the milestone.

“This settlement holds these companies accountable while directly helping North Carolina families who need it most,” Jackson said during one of the delivery events. The agreement not only provides immediate food assistance but also sends a clear message that price manipulation will not be tolerated.

Beyond the egg donations, the settlement includes $3.3 million in payments to the participating states, funds that will support ongoing consumer protection efforts. The legal action was grounded in the Sherman Antitrust Act, the cornerstone federal law designed to prevent monopolistic behavior and protect fair competition in the marketplace.

For North Carolina’s food banks, the timing couldn’t be better. Egg prices have been a persistent concern for food assistance organizations, which have struggled to meet demand as more families turn to food banks for help. The 3 million eggs will be distributed across the state’s network of food banks, reaching communities from the mountains to the coast.

The settlement represents a rare example of swift accountability in corporate antitrust cases, with tangible benefits flowing directly to those most affected by the alleged price manipulation. As deliveries continue through the fall, North Carolina families will see real relief on their tables—proof that aggressive consumer protection enforcement can make a meaningful difference in people’s daily lives.