The fast food chain has accused multiple producers of price-fixing.

As a fast food chain that focuses on the sale of chicken above all other meats, Chick-fil-A requires a steady supply of chicken from the country’s poultry farms. In the event, however, that poultry farms begin raising their prices to unfair levels while dealing with Chick-fil-A, their entire operation could be compromised. This is what Chick-fil-A has asserted in their new lawsuit against the poultry industry at large.

Chick-fil-A has filed lawsuits against 17 different American poultry farmers, including some of the biggest names in the industry such as Tyson, Perdue, and Pilgrim’s Pride. The fast food chain’s allegation is that these producers have been sharing pricing details and bids between each other, all while raising their sale prices while dealing with Chick-fil-A, all in the effort of forcing the chain to pay more than the supplies are actually worth. Chick-fil-A is seeking undisclosed damages for this claim, as well as coverage for legal expenses.

Chick-fil-A sued major poultry producers, accusing them of price-fixing that the chain says led to inflated prices for billions of dollars worth of its chicken purchases https://t.co/cKRX6QoBpw

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) December 6, 2020

Most of the poultry producers included in the lawsuit have not publicly commented on the matter, though a representative from Perdue did chime in.

“We believe these claims are unfounded and plan to contest the merits,” said Perdue spokeswoman Andrea Staub.

The US poultry industry has been in consistent legal trouble over the course of 2020, with at least 10 industry executives indicted in separate lawsuits and multiple suppliers under suspicion of inflating the price of broiler chicken. In one of the most recent examples, Pilgrim’s Pride pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to limit chicken product sales competition. For this accusation, Pilgrim’s Pride was forced to pay a $110.5 million fine.