As a butcher all my working life I have witnessed this scam called 'free range' rip people off for years.

On the other hand, if anyone pays say $12 per kilo, or less for free range chicken breast, thinking they are actually getting free range, then they deserve to be ripped off.

I can tell you now, the only sure way to get free range eggs is to feed the chooks yourself.

Having recently visited the Vic markets, I just laugh at the number of people being gullible enough to be ripped off with the likes of free range and other rip offs like a whole tray of rib fillet for $10, which is actually round or chuck eye.

One can never legislate against stupidity.

It seems that Pericles hates (other kinds of) animals. I look forward to the time when tigers are in charge. For a serious discussion of this issue I recommend that readers move to The Conversation, where you can this week find a discussion of this issue. "Serious attempt at self-regulation".... Just kills me!

David L,

Your comment would appear more arrogant than the article. If cost is all that is important to you, then the meaning of the "free range" label is of no importance at all to you. Changing the label is not restricting the availability of battery farm eggs, in fact it will allow many such operations to label themselves as free range.

To other consumers, who see 'free range' as an ethical matter on which they are prepared to pay more, watering down the meaning of that label to virtually meaningless may be of importance. Certainly, the view of consumers who do take note of the label should be considered over and above the wishes of the industry. The question is whether changing the rules around the 'free range' label would deceive consumers who take note of said label.