The Justice Department and 17 states reach settlements with Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman's Egg Ranch requiring $3.3M and 53M eggs after investigators say executives coordinated bids and manipulated the Urner Barry price index from June 2022 to March 2025.Cal-Maine Foods will pay $1.5M and donate 30M eggs, Versova will provide 20M eggs and $800K, and Hickman's Egg Ranch will contribute 3.25M eggs and $1M; none of the companies admit wrongdoing and Hickman's owner Mantiqueira USA says the alleged conduct predates its late 2025 acquisition.The settlements, which require court approval, impose antitrust compliance programs and a ban on pricing communications; advocacy groups call the penalties inadequate and state lawyers say they will continue oversight and can pursue further remedies.