An attempt by Uber to build the largest meal delivery company in the US by buying its rival Grubhub has immediately come under fire from lawmakers, city officials, and antitrust experts.

Uber and Grubhub, currently the second and third-largest US meal delivery companies by market share behind DoorDash, are in talks over a tie-up as the coronavirus crisis accelerates consumer demand for delivery services, according to two people familiar with the situation. Grubhub’s share price rose 29 percent on Tuesday, giving it a market value of $5.5 billion.

David Cicilline, a congressman who chairs the House antitrust subcommittee investigating the tech sector, said Uber’s takeover attempt “marks a new low in pandemic profiteering”.