Restrict the Grain Trade?

Grain merchants have long suffered under the harsh restrictions placed on their trade, among them price controls and checks on the purity of their wares. They have come forwards with a proposal to greatly increase their profits - and in turn our tax revenues - from the grain trade by implementing a laissez-faire policy, in essence lifting most restrictions imposed on them.\n\nHowever, others point out that these restrictions are intended to guarantee the people edible food at affordable prices, and that many see the grain merchants as "the cruellest enemies of the people", thought to mix their flour with chalk or ground up bones, and actively inflate prices to make money off the suffering of the people. This being the case, it may be risky to be seen to give the grain merchants free rein...