Following statements relating to oligopoly in the red meat and poultry industries, the North American Meat Institute has responded publicly defending the current structure of the meat industry.
Mark Dopp, COO of the NAMI stated, "as with almost every industry meat and poultry packers and processors of all sizes have been and continued to be effected by the global pandemic and the inflationary trends that challenge the U.S. economy".
He continued, "American consumers of most goods and services are seeing higher costs largely due to a persistent and widespread labor shortage". The NAMI stresses that poultry and meat markets are competitive and dynamic that this ultimately benefits consumers. It is a general impression in the meat industries that certain members of the Administration do not understand the supply and demand factors and how they affect markets.
It is apparent that the Administration is intent on altering the current concentration in red meat packing. Whether this is justified or achievable is questionable. The important question is the possible outcome of injudicious regulations or creating subsidized competition on food security and ultimately availability and the price to consumers.