NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — An egg supplier that allegedly gouged the price of its products during the pandemic will donate 1.2 million eggs to food banks in New York to resolve a lawsuit from the state.
Last August, New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged that, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Hillandale Farms hiked the prices of more than 4 million cartons of eggs that were sold to major grocery store chains — many of which were located in low-income communities, U.S. military facilities — including West Point, and wholesale food distributors throughout New York.
James’ office accused Hillandale of charging customers up to four times the pre-pandemic price for one carton of eggs.
On Thursday, the attorney general announced that the company will donate 100,000 cartons of eggs — or 1.2 million eggs — to New York state food banks in order to settle the suit.
The company has also agreed to stop price-gouging eggs, James noted.
“As New Yorkers scrambled to stock up on food, one of the nation’s largest egg producers raised prices to unprecedented levels and made it harder for New Yorkers to feed their families,” she said in a statement.
She added: “Hillandale may have run afoul of our state’s price gouging laws and hatched a plan that targeted our state’s most vulnerable in its darkest hour, but, today, we’re delivering 1.2 million eggs to feed hungry New Yorkers and make things right.”
The attorney general visited a food bank in Harlem on Thursday, shortly after announcing the news, to deliver 500,000 eggs to New York City.
“Food relief is of paramount importance during this public health crisis and I’m proud to support those New Yorkers in need,” James wrote in a Tweet.
She also visited a center in Hauppauge, where 400,000 eggs were donated.
Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.