Senate Democrats Aim Bill at Breakup of Meat Companies

The US meatpacking industry faces a fresh wave of scrutiny, this time from Senate Democrats seeking to allow companies to process only one type of meat and set stricter limits on the beef market.

The bill, introduced Thursday by the Senate’s top Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, comes at a time when record consumer beef prices have become a flashpoint of voter anger over food inflation heading into November’s US midterm elections. President Donald Trump also last fall asked the US Justice Department to investigate the industry.