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ARTICLE · 17 MARCH 2011

"Free range" labelling of food products can be misleading

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Many people choose to pay more for products labelled "free-range" because they believe that the animals used in their production were treated in a more humane way. However, the ACCC's recent successful prosecution of egg producers demonstrates that such labelling can be misleading.

AustraliaAntitrust/Competition Law
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In brief - ACCC prosecutes egg producers for bogus free range claim

Many people choose to pay more for products labelled "free-range" because they believe that the animals used in their production were treated in a more humane way. However, the ACCC's recent successful prosecution of egg producers demonstrates that such labelling can be misleading.

Free range products and ethical preferences

Consumers are increasingly likely to consider farming systems when making decisions about purchasing animal products. The growing display of "free range" products in supermarkets reflects the desire of food producers to cater for consumers' ethical preferences as much as to address a commercial market. However, is "free range" product labelling accurately informing us as consumers and truly facilitating consumer choice?

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