Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Lifestyle
Isabella Lee

Free-range, organic and ‘hormone-free’: what do Australian supermarket chicken labels mean?

A whole raw chicken on a styrofoam tray
The least to most expensive chicken meat available in Australian supermarkets is typically: RSPCA-certified, free-range then organic. Photograph: Krug Studios/Getty Images

From a bachelor’s handbag to the shining star of a pub feed, chicken has captured the hearts and stomachs of Australians nationwide. It is by far the country’s most popular meat, with Australians consuming almost 55kg of chicken a year, almost double the amount of pork, the second-most consumed meat.

Why? For one, chicken is cheap. Prices have remained stable compared with beef and lamb. Indexed to retail prices in 2010, the price of chicken has only increased by 20%, while beef has increased by nearly 80% and lamb by nearly 40%.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.