U.S. Opens Antitrust Probe on Chicken-Industry Labor Practices

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating employment practices of Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. and other chicken producers to determine whether the companies violated antitrust laws.

Pilgrim’s, the second-biggest U.S. poultry company, disclosed the civil investigation in a securities filing. Perdue Farms Inc. said it received a letter from the Justice Department, a company spokeswoman said. Perdue is the fourth-biggest U.S. chicken producer. Dow Jones reported the investigation earlier.