Agricultural Giant Agrees To Settle Suit

Archer Daniels Midland Co. agreed Friday to pay $25 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the “supermarket to the world” of fixing prices for an animal feed supplement.

The agricultural giant still could be hit with criminal charges over the supplement, called lysine. And it also faces dozens of lawsuits accusing it of price-fixing products like citric acid and corn syrup used in soft drinks.

“This is not a sweetheart deal for ADM,” said Robert Swift, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the class-action suit.

Payments from two other major distributors of lsyine will push the settlement to over $45 million.