McDonald’s Sues Beef Packers
Fast food giant McDonald’s is suing the “Big Four” packers (JBS, Cargill, Tyson, and National Beef Packing) for allegedly conspiring to raise the price of beef.
Filed in a New York federal court, the lawsuit alleges that the packers violated antitrust laws by coordinating to lower prices, slow production, and ultimately raise the price for buyers like McDonalds. Similar cases have been filed in the past against the “Big Four,” which control 80% of the US beef production. In 2022, JBS USA agreed to pay $52.5 million to settle price-fixing allegations from grocery stores and wholesalers. McDonald’s is the world’s largest buyer of beef and pork.
Lawsuit Filed Against McDonald’s
The national food safety law firm of Ron Simon and Associates, along with Meyers and Flowers, LLC, filed the first McDonald’s E. coli lawsuit, on behalf of Colorado resident Eric Stelly. The lawsuit was filed in Cook County, Illinois.
On October 4, 2024, Eric Stelly purchased and consumed food from his local McDonald’s, located in Greely, Colorado. Two days later, he began experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps, nausea, and dehydration, as well as bloody stools — the most common symptom of E. coli poisoning.
On October 8, after he could no longer bear the pain of his illness, he sought medical attention at the emergency room at UCHealth in West Greeley. His doctor performed a stool culture, which returned positive for E. coli. His physician also referred him to specialists at the Centers for Gastroenterology to determine the extent of his illness. A few days later, the Weld County Department of Public Health contacted Mr. Stelly regarding his E. coli diagnosis, and confirmed he had consumed food from McDonald’s. Over ten victims in Colorado have already been identified.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with the Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, at least 49 victims have been identified, including one death, in the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak.
Carbon Robotics Raises Funds for AI-Powered Laser Weeder
Carbon Robotics, a leader in AI-powered farming, announced that it has raised $70 million in Series D financing. The financing was led by new investor BOND with participation from existing investors.
This new funding round will help scale Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder™ business, introduce new software and hardware products, and expand state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities in Eastern Washington. It will also support the company’s growth in new markets and continue its geographic expansion into Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as the Asia-Pacific region.
“Carbon Robotics is uniquely positioned to deploy AI to transform the massive agriculture industry at a critical time,” said Mood Rowghani, general partner at BOND. “Its proven ability to execute and scale, combined with a visionary leadership team, makes it a clear standout in the space. This investment reflects our strong conviction in the central role Carbon Robotics will play in shaping the future of farming.”
Growers in North America, Europe, and Australia have eliminated more than ten billion weeds across 100 crop types without the use of chemical herbicides, hand labor, or soil disruption.
“This funding represents a pivotal milestone not just for our company but for farmers and consumers worldwide,” said Paul Mikesell, CEO and founder of Carbon Robotics. “We’re leading a transformative shift, and this investment accelerates our ability to pioneer AI and robotics that will reshape farming for generations to come.” .
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