The US Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges US tuna giant Starkist can pay off a fine greater than $50 million (44.6 million) through the sale of its investment in TechPack Solutions, which the DOJ values at $154 million (€137 million), according court documents.

"StarKist participated in a long-running price-fixing conspiracy that affected more than a half a billion dollars of commerce in a staple household product. Like any other criminal defendant, StarKist must shoulder the full financial consequences of its criminal acts," the DOJ told a US District Judge on July 17.