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SThe Ministry of Justice has fined TarKist Co. $ 100 million for its role in the tuna price setting plot.
The tuna giant also received a 12-month probation period for conspiring to fix canned fish prices and pleaded guilty last year to an antitrust charge. The Ministry of Justice stated that StarKist participated in the pricing process from November 2011 to December 2013 at least.
StarKist had asked for a lower fine, but during Tuesday's conviction, US District Judge Edward Chen said the company had not proven that his financial situation justified a lower fine. In addition to the substantial fine and probation, StarKist has agreed to cooperate with an ongoing investigation of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice.
Deputy Attorney General Makan Delrahim said Tuesday in a statement that when customers are cheated on account of a company, the antitrust division will hold the company to the utmost account of his actions.
"Today's results reflect our determination to aggressively enforce antitrust laws against pricing companies," Delrahim said. "Hard-working Americans deserve the benefits of open competition when they spend their hard-earned money on items that stock kitchen shelves."
StarKist General Manager Andrew Choe told the the Wall Street newspaper that the company accepts the blame for the violation.
"We cooperated with the Department of Justice during its investigation and took our responsibilities," said Choe.
In 2017, Bumble Bee Foods, another tuna company, pleaded guilty to the government's price-fixing investigation and fined $ 25 million. The antitrust investigation in the packaged seafood sector is still ongoing and has resulted in six charges in total.
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