Australian Consumers Unaware Of Meat Production Methods

This survey of Australian chicken consumers finds that most do not know the basics of chicken production or that chickens raised for meat are not kept in cages despite feeling confident about their knowledge of farming practices.

More than four out of five (80.6%) of Australian consumers incorrectly believe that in Australia chickens raised for meat are farmed using cages, while less than 3% are aware that cages are not used at all for these chickens. Nearly two-thirds (63%) believe they know the differences between conventional, free-range, and organic chicken, though survey results show that their understanding is frequently incorrect.

In addition, 23.3% of Australian consumers believe that a significant amount of the chicken sold in Australia is imported, whereas nearly 100% of chickens sold are locally raised and produced. Most (95%) of consumers have stated a preference for locally raised meat.