Shoppers Who Bought Chicken in the Last 10 Years Could Be Eligible for a Payout

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A new class action settlement could put cash in the pocket of shoppers who bought chicken products in the U.S. over the last 10 years.

Prosecutors in the Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation lawsuit have alleged that a handful of chicken processors violated federal and state consumer and antitrust laws by conspiring to stabilize the price and supply of chicken as of Jan. 1, 2009.

Settlements totaling $181 million have been reached, according to a release authorized by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois — even though the settling defendants have not admitted any liability and continued to deny the legal claims alleged in the lawsuit.

"This represents significant recovery for consumers who were harmed by the defendants conspiring to raise the price of chicken in grocery stores and other retailers, Brent W. Johnson, co-lead counsel with Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, said in a statement to PEOPLE.

Before any money is paid, though, the court will hold a hearing on Dec. 20 to decide whether to approve the settlements.

Shoppers interested in earning part of the settlement must have purchased chicken products from one of the settling defendants — Fieldale Farms Corporation, George's, Mar-Jac Poultry, Peco Foods, Pilgrim's Pride and Tyson Foods — between Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2020.