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Supermarkets accused of pushing "confusing" promo labels

Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have all been accused of saturating their stores with "confusing" promotional labels that offer little to no discount. Research by consumer advocacy group Choice suggests one-in-four shoppers feel "misled" by discount stickers, finding it difficult to discern the promo price from the original price. More than 1,000 customers across the country took part in the <a title="www.choice.com.au" href="https://www.choice.com.au/unclearsupermarketspecials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a>, which surveyed price tags regularly used by Woolworths, Coles and Aldi that featured phrases such as “down down”, “member price” and “prices dropped”. According to the report, which has been passed on to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Supermarkets Inquiry, it was Coles that caused the most confusion, with their "while stocks last" stickers proving to be unclear to the average shopper. Coles told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/woolworths-coles-and-aldi-accused-of-confusing-promotional-labels/news-story/c2a350bd62dd0a0ba9c4fad04fa69435" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> its “while stocks last” tickets offer customers the chance to buy items which are only available at Coles for a limited time, and which are unlikely to be restocked once the products are sold out. But according to Choice, one-third of shoppers surveyed believed products tagged with the bright yellow tag were discounted, while another third were unsure of its meaning. Woolworths’ “member price” was also found to cause “considerable confusion”, according to the consumer watchdog. Meanwhile Aldi’s “super savers” label were also found to leave many Aussies confused, with a third of those surveyed unsure if it was a discount, according to the research. “Consumers look for products that are the best value for money but it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to decipher the promotional tags being used by the supermarkets,” Choice said. “Consumers are drawn to promotional tags that make it look like one product is potentially better value or a good deal, compared to other products." However, the labels are “confusing and potentially misleading” and without contextual information or historical pricing data, “consumers have no way of knowing if they are getting a good deal or not." Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have all responded to the report, with Coles saying in a statement, “Customer feedback is important to us. Our goal is to always be as clear as possible and we are taking steps to update this ticket over the coming months.” Choice has called for “transparent pricing” from supermarkets in the report “to ensure that people are able to effectively compare products, recognise genuine discounts and make informed decisions” when buying their groceries. Choice is also calling for strong enforcement action from the ACCC to “send a clear message to the supermarkets that misleading pricing is unacceptable”. Image credits: Choice

Money & Banking

Calories and kilojoules: how do we know the energy content of food, and how accurate are the labels?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-ball-14718">Lauren Ball</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-burch-438717">Emily Burch</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katelyn-barnes-1238606">Katelyn Barnes</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Everything we consume contains energy our bodies use to move, grow and maintain health. To work out how much energy is in different foods and drinks, we need to first look at a few core concepts. Firstly, you’ve probably heard of the units of measurement for energy – calories – as well as the metric equivalent, which is joules. One calorie is defined as the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1℃. In human nutrition, the amounts of energy needed to maintain health, and to fuel a body, are much larger than the tiny singular calories used to heat up a gram of water. So, the term “calorie” in nutrition commonly refers to a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622085546">kilocalorie</a> (or kcal), which is 1,000 calories. When you see the word “calories” on a nutrition label, it’s likely referring to kcals. The energy stored in food and drinks is released when the body breaks down one or more of the four macronutrients inside the food (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, alcohol). The body then uses that energy for activities such as keeping our heart beating, our lungs breathing and our muscles moving. When energy in food is estimated, it is the amount of energy food and drinks provide for these bodily processes. The four macronutrients provide <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522039454">different amounts of energy</a>: <ol> <li>1 gram of carbohydrate provides about 4 kcal of energy</li> <li>1 gram of fat provides about 9 kcal of energy</li> <li>1 gram of protein provides about 4 kcal of energy</li> <li>1 gram of alcohol provides about 7 kcal of energy.</li> </ol> <h2>How are calories estimated?</h2> There are two ways to estimate the amount of energy in food and drinks. The first is called “bomb calorimetry”. This gold-standard method involves placing a small sample of food or drink inside a device known as a bomb calorimeter. The food is burned in the presence of oxygen, releasing heat. The amount of heat released is directly related to the amount of energy in the food, allowing a calculation to be made. This method is most commonly used for foods rich in fats and is considered the most reliable (but expensive) method. The second method, the Atwater system, is a much less expensive method for estimating energy content. It is more commonly used when calculating energy of most food and drinks sold in supermarkets. Named after legendary food researcher <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622065336">Wilbur Atwater</a>, this system uses a standard conversion factor for each macronutrient found in food and drinks. By estimating the amount of each of the four macronutrients, an approximate calculation of the total energy can be made. However, this method requires detailed knowledge of the ingredients within composite foods (such as muesli bars or hamburgers) – which may reduce accuracy. There is also a margin of error to expect with the Atwater system, because it assumes each ingredient is always the same in composition. For example, a cup of oats grown in one part of the country won’t necessarily have the exact same nutritional content as another cup of oats grown elsewhere, due to climate and soil differences. So, this system is an estimation based on an average. Importantly, both methods estimate the amount of energy in food and drinks. But the actual energy our bodies extract from these foods and drinks can vary due to factors such as individual differences in digestion and absorption, as well as food processing and cooking methods. <h2>Why do foods have calories written on them?</h2> In Australia, it’s a <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/labelling/panels/Pages/default.aspx">legal requirement</a> for packaged food items to have a nutrition information panel that displays the number of kcal it contains. However, homemade food items sold at places like a fresh market may not be required to provide a nutrition information panel. This will depend on the type of food being sold and the scale of the business operation. Fresh foods such as fruit, vegetables and meat also don’t require a nutrition information panel. To find out the number of kcal in them, you can either run an experiment with a bomb calorimeter or look up an estimated value in an online nutrition database. Food composition databases such as <a href="https://www.calorieking.com/us/en/">CalorieKing</a> compile information about the energy and nutrient content of various foods. Dietitians and other health professionals often use these databases to estimate the energy content of foods to inform dietary recommendations. <h2>Different international standards</h2> Both kJ and kcal refer to energy – they are just two different units of measurements (such as how inches and centimetres are two different units for measuring length). Kilojoules (kJ) is part of the International System of Units (SI). Australia, New Zealand and some parts of Europe use kJ. The United States and the United Kingdom use kcal. To convert between calories and kilojoules you use the conversion factors: <ul> <li>1 kcal = 4.184 kJ</li> <li>1 kJ = 0.24 kcal (about ¼).</li> </ul> For example, if you have a packet of chips with an energy content of 200 kcal, you can convert it to kJ as follows: 200 kcal × 4.184 = 836.8 kJ. As for how many calories are acceptable to eat, the Australian Guidelines for Healthy Eating estimate the average adult requires about 7,000kJ or 1,670Kcal every day. However, differences in age, gender, size, health and physical activity will influence how much energy a person needs. To estimate your personal energy requirements, you can use this <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients-dietary-energy-calculator#results-energy">nutrients and dietary energy calculator</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211613/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-ball-14718">Lauren Ball</a>, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-burch-438717">Emily Burch</a>, Dietitian, Researcher & Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katelyn-barnes-1238606">Katelyn Barnes</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/calories-and-kilojoules-how-do-we-know-the-energy-content-of-food-and-how-accurate-are-the-labels-211613">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

Bruce Lehrmann condemns damning inquiry and labels trial conduct as a "dark chapter"

Bruce Lehrmann has expressed his strong disapproval of a damning inquiry into his rape trial, referring to it as "a dark chapter" in the justice system. In response to the inquiry's findings, Bruce Lehrmann has criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, for his conduct during the trial, stating that it was a troubling episode for the justice system. The former Liberal staffer, who intends to pursue a multimillion-dollar compensation claim over the trial's handling, commended his legal team, led by Steve Whybrow SC and Kamy Saeedi lawyers. Mr. Lehrmann stated to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/bruce-lehrmann-slams-damning-inquiry-describes-trial-conduct-as-dark-chapter/news-story/b5b6ec06d5b435f8870a1e7d5b9ae4b8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>, "Much of what we are reading, my brilliant criminal defense team led by Steve Whybrow SC suspected all along. I owe everything to the lawyers who have surrounded me. This is overwhelming and alarming reading." He also acknowledged Mr. Sofronoff and his team for revealing the truth and shedding light on what he perceives as a dark chapter for the ACT Justice system. Mr. Lehrmann promised to share more details once the Chief Minister releases the full report to the public. The landmark inquiry found that the prosecution's legal initiation was appropriate, but it severely criticised Mr. Drumgold's actions during the trial. Walter Sofronoff KC, a former Supreme Court judge in Queensland, affirmed the lawfulness of the police's charges against Mr. Lehrmann and agreed that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was justified in prosecuting based on the available evidence. It is essential to note that this finding does not reflect Mr. Lehrmann's guilt or innocence but focuses on the conduct of the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr. Lehrmann remains innocent under the law since he was never convicted, as the trial collapsed following an allegation of juror misconduct. However, the inquiry revealed damning evidence against Mr. Drumgold, accusing him of "knowingly lying" to the ACT Supreme Court regarding his alleged warning to Lisa Wilkinson concerning her Logies speech. The report uncovered unethical conduct by Mr. Drumgold, including his use of a note related to a discussion he had with Ms. Wilkinson just days before her speech. The Australian newspaper <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/sofronoff-report-reveals-shane-drumgold-lied-during-bruce-lehrmann-rape-case/news-story/07d25b9c79364a10473806e3df48dfa7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained a complete copy</a> of the extensive 600-page Sofronoff report, which confirmed the seriousness of the findings against Mr. Drumgold. This led Mr. Sofronoff to contemplate whether the DPP was suitable to continue holding the office. The inquiry was initiated after Mr. Drumgold wrote a letter to ACT Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan in November 2022, demanding an inquiry and making "scandalous allegations" about political interference. However, the inquiry revealed that these allegations were baseless and untrue. The report further criticised Mr. Drumgold for not disclosing crucial material to the defence, which is a significant violation of the principle of disclosure in criminal litigation. Chief Justice Lucy McCallum's stern criticism of Ms. Wilkinson's Logies speech led to a four-month delay in the trial and sparked a firestorm of adverse publicity. The report favoured Ms. Wilkinson's account over Mr. Drumgold's, suggesting that he had knowingly lied to Chief Justice McCallum about his warning to the broadcaster. Mr. Sofronoff stated that while Ms. Wilkinson should have exercised caution in making the speech given the trial's proximity, Mr. Drumgold had a responsibility to the court and failed to act appropriately. In conclusion, the Sofronoff inquiry found significant misconduct on the part of Mr. Drumgold and raised concerns about the fairness of the trial conduct in Bruce Lehrmann's case. Images: Getty

Legal

Australia should follow Ireland’s lead and add stronger health warning labels to alcohol

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emmanuel-kuntsche-430354">Emmanuel Kuntsche</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paula-obrien-4221">Paula O'Brien</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robin-room-3770">Robin Room</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a> From <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/industry/labelling/Documents/q-and-a-pwl-requirements-sep-2020.pdf">August 2023</a>, Australian beer, wine, spirits and pre-mixed drinks have to warn of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-has-some-of-the-highest-rates-of-drinking-during-pregnancy-its-time-to-make-labelling-mandatory-142645">harms of drinking alcohol while pregnant</a>. But they don’t have to mention the other harms of alcohol for the wider population. Ireland <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/22/ireland-to-introduce-world-first-alcohol-health-labelling-policy">recently signed legislation</a> to introduce tougher alcohol warning labels, to warn about the risks of liver disease and fatal cancers from drinking alcohol. These will be in place from 2026. Considering the ongoing efforts of the industry to undermine the introduction of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214109X21005702">effective alcohol labelling</a> worldwide, the Irish example is an important victory for public health. In Australia, it’s time to put consumer health and rights before commercial interests and warn people drinking and buying alcohol of the risks. <h2>Educating consumers about the health risks</h2> Alcohol causes <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol">more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions</a>. There is strong evidence that from the first drink, the risk of various cancers (of the breast, liver, colon, rectum, oropharynx, larynx and oesophagus) <a href="https://adf.org.au/insights/alcohol-cancer-risk/">increases</a>. This is <a href="https://www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/preventing-cancer/limit-alcohol/how-alcohol-causes-cancer">because</a>: <ul> <li> ethanol (pure alcohol) and its toxic by-product acetaldehyde damages cells by binding with DNA, causing cells to replicate incorrectly </li> <li> alcohol influences hormone levels, which can modify how cells grow and divide </li> <li> direct tissue damage can occur, increasing the absorption of other cancer-causing substances. </li> </ul> Alcohol use kills <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/2021">more than four Australians</a> a day (the highest rate in the past decade) and results in <a href="https://ndri.curtin.edu.au/ndri/media/documents/publications/T302.pdf">A$182 million of avoidable costs</a> per day. Yet only half of Australians know drinking alcohol <a href="https://adf.org.au/insights/alcohol-breast-cancer/">can cause cancer</a>. <a href="https://www.jsad.com/doi/10.15288/jsad.2020.81.249">Research shows</a> mandatory health labelling is an important way to increase awareness and should form part of a comprehensive <a href="https://fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/academic/pdf/openaccess/9780192844484.pdf">alcohol control strategy</a>. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530732/original/file-20230607-17-hl3pvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530732/original/file-20230607-17-hl3pvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530732/original/file-20230607-17-hl3pvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530732/original/file-20230607-17-hl3pvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530732/original/file-20230607-17-hl3pvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530732/original/file-20230607-17-hl3pvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530732/original/file-20230607-17-hl3pvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Person pours wine into a glass at a lunch" /><figcaption>Many people are unaware of the link between alcohol and cancer. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/making-sure-glasses-stay-full-shot-2151108503">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>Countering industry influence</h2> The alcohol industry currently uses alcohol labels and packaging as a marketing and branding tool. Alcohol warning labels help counter these marketing messages. Alcohol industry interests have so far succeeded in exempting alcoholic drinks from the usual <a href="https://fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/academic/pdf/openaccess/9780192844484.pdf">consumer information requirements</a>. Under the <a href="https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/en/">international labelling guidelines</a>, all processed foods must have all ingredients listed on the label. But alcohol industry interests have so far succeeded in these rules <a href="https://movendi.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Hepworth-et-al-2020.pdf">not being applied to alcoholic beverages</a>. In Australia, the alcohol content and number of standard drinks must be <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/labelling/Pages/Labelling-of-alcoholic-beverages.aspx">listed on the product’s label</a>. However, there is no requirement, as for other foods and drinks, that ingredients (except for certain allergens such as milk or gluten) and nutritional information (energy, carbohydrates, and so on) be listed. Aside from warnings to pregnant women to abstain from alcohol, there is no provision for consumer information about the risks of alcohol consumption on alcohol packaging. Yet such warnings are required for other hazardous substances taken into the body, such as tobacco. <h2>How Ireland is leading the charge</h2> Ireland is leading the world with its alcohol labelling. From 2026, drinks containing alcohol will have to inform consumers about the specific risks of liver disease and fatal cancers. Labels will also have to notify buyers of the alcohol risks to pregnancy, the calorie content of the beverage, and the number of grams of alcohol it contains. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530734/original/file-20230607-16366-8nixs9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530734/original/file-20230607-16366-8nixs9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530734/original/file-20230607-16366-8nixs9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530734/original/file-20230607-16366-8nixs9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530734/original/file-20230607-16366-8nixs9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530734/original/file-20230607-16366-8nixs9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530734/original/file-20230607-16366-8nixs9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="People walk past a pub in Ireland" /><figcaption>Health warning labels will be mandatory in Ireland from 2026. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dublin-ireland-july-11-2021-outdoor-2007076256">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> The new labelling move <a href="https://www.cancer.ie/about-us/news/irish-cancer-society-statement-on-the-introduction-of-health-warning-labels-on-alcohol-products">demonstrates</a> the government has prioritised reducing alcohol-related disease and has widespread support. A recent <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/33/2/323/7067991">household survey</a> in Ireland found 81.9% of the more than 1,000 participants supported the introduction of health warning labels on alcohol. <h2>Barriers to overcome in Australia</h2> In 2020, in the face of intense pressure from industry groups, the Australian government decided on new labelling requirements for alcoholic beverages, but only to warn about the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-has-some-of-the-highest-rates-of-drinking-during-pregnancy-its-time-to-make-labelling-mandatory-142645">risks of drinking during pregnancy</a>. From a public health point of view, this was a mediocre compromise. Australia is currently considering introducing energy content (kilojoule) labelling on alcoholic beverages. This would be a positive step and but it is as far as Australia seems willing to go for now. There are no plans for Australia to follow Ireland’s lead. Some countries seem to be <a href="https://www.ibec.ie/drinksireland/news-insights-and-events/news/2023/05/16/strong-international-opposition-to-irelands-alcohol-labelling-proposals">gearing up</a> to use the World Trade Organization’s processes to oppose Ireland’s new labels. Australia <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22716074/">previously opposed</a> enhanced alcohol warning labels Thailand proposed, at the same time Australia was seeking international support for its tobacco plain packaging laws. This time, Australia should prioritise the public’s health over commercial interests and support Ireland’s alcohol warning messages in the World Trade Organization.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206985/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emmanuel-kuntsche-430354">Emmanuel Kuntsche</a>, Director of the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paula-obrien-4221">Paula O'Brien</a>, Associate Professor in Faculty of Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robin-room-3770">Robin Room</a>, Professor, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-should-follow-irelands-lead-and-add-stronger-health-warning-labels-to-alcohol-206985">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Food & Wine

"Show us your Regina" tourism campaign labelled "a failure of epic proportions"

A tourism campaign for the Canadian city of Regina has certainly gotten the world talking - just not for the right reasons. The controversial approach to promoting the area has outraged its locals, who condemned the marketing as not only “misogynistic” and also “pathetic and disgusting”. The tourism agency behind the campaign - Experience Regina - believed that “Show us your Regina” would be of benefit to the city, particularly as Regina rhymes with vagina. “The city that rhymes with fun” is another slogan they slipped into their controversial campaign, and was featured on a line of merchandise made in collaboration with 22Fresh. All posts featuring the clothing campaign have since been removed. Outrage came fast and furious, and the organisation was forced to acknowledge their mistake, taking to Twitter to share their thanks for everyone “holding them accountable”. “I want to start by apologising, on behalf of myself and our team, for the negative impact we created with elements of our recent brand launch," said Experience Regina’s Tim Reid in a statement to Twitter. He went on to note that they’d had positive feedback, but that it was “clear we fell short of what is expected from our amazing community with some of the slogans we used.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Thank you for using your voice, thank you for holding us accountable, and thank you for allowing us to be better. -Tim Reid, CEO of Experience Regina <a href="https://t.co/VdS4NyYop3">pic.twitter.com/VdS4NyYop3</a> — Experience Regina (@ExpRegina) <a href="https://twitter.com/ExpRegina/status/1637586812427468801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2023</a></blockquote> People were not thrilled with the apology, believing that it was up to the company to do more to right their wrongs, and to actually acknowledge where they had veered off course in their decision making process. “Do better. This is pathetic and disgusting,” wrote one unhappy Twitter user. “There needs to be significant changes and very public acknowledgement of the mistakes made,” said another, before allowing that “this is a start.” “Did you ask literally anyone if it was a good idea?” one asked. Someone else opted to outline exactly what the majority were trying to tell them, stating that “this is a failure of epic proportions. You not only showed complete disrespect for women in our community but also a complete disregard for the comfort and safety of women in this community. We are owed the full story about how this came to be.” The uproar was so loud that Regina City Councillor Cheryl Stadnichuk issued a statement to Facebook, declaring that she too was “incredibly disappointed and appalled … with the sexist messaging of the new Experience Regina.” She went on to explain that she hadn’t been given any advance notice regarding the campaign’s slogan, and her thoughts on them. “The slogans associated with the campaign … are misogynist and objectify women’s bodies. As one woman pointed out on social media, would we engage school children with this messaging? I also ask, do we want men harassing women in bars chanting ‘show us your Regina?’,” she wrote. “There are so many serious ramifications of these slogans. We have extremely high rates of intimate partner violence and sexual assault in our city. “As a society, we have a responsibility to teach boys and men about consent. These slogans do the opposite.” <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid0B6NsGhF2GBJXi67JrVTotVSefpYn7wGqFGqcA1tMiEBXLz5habNboqp2Gt6LVMnfl%26id%3D100064052141182&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="276" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Response to her post was mostly positive - people were glad to see someone in power speaking out with them - but there were those that still wanted to hear more from the company itself. One day later, they did. Tim Reid once again took to Twitter to share what steps Experience Regina would be taking moving forward. To begin, they were removing “all content that is offensive or inappropriate”, something that many had been calling for from the beginning. They noted that they would also be “more stringent in evaluating all aspects of our brand” and that they were “committed to involving more diverse stakeholder groups in our decision making process”. That they hadn’t already in 2023 was a sore point for some, while others opted just to be glad they claimed to be “committed to making it right.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Please read for an update. <a href="https://t.co/OQTSvHuDV4">pic.twitter.com/OQTSvHuDV4</a> — Experience Regina (@ExpRegina) <a href="https://twitter.com/ExpRegina/status/1637987662882643970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></blockquote> Images: 22Fresh / Instagram

Travel Trouble

Magda Szubanski labelled a "hypocrite" after blackface photos emerge

Magda Szubanski has been called out for being a "hypocrite" online after photos of her doing blackface in a comedy sketch have resurfaced. The comedian had taken to Twitter to express her annoyance at Gina Rinehart for failing to condemn the racist comments made by her father, after Hancock Prospecting, run by Rinehart, withdrew its multimillion-dollar sponsorship for the Australian Diamonds netball team. She said, "Lang Hancock went way beyond plain racism he suggested STERILIZING a race of people. So it's not virtue signalling - it's survival! Imagine being asked to wear his name on your back just so you can get funding for your sport." One Twitter user took issue with her comments, and shared a photo of Magda performing in a comedy skit in blackface. In the image, Magda is seen wearing a pink tunic and an afro wig adorned with hair clips, with dark brown paint covering her face. Twitter users were quick to label Magda a "hypocrite", saying she had no right to weigh in on the matter following her own racist mistakes in the past. "Magda you might need to sit this one out," wrote one commenter. "But I think you are failing to recognise that Gina didn't make those comments, you personally wore blackface," wrote a second, before another added, "Not a good look". Following the onslaught, Magda herself re-shared the photo, saying, "I've spent the 25 years since then listening and learning. And apologising." Some fans accepted her apology, with one person writing, "The world has changed, we have all learnt more since then. Glass houses people, no one lives a perfect existence without anything cringeworthy in your past." Image credits: Getty Images / Twitter

Why ‘best before’ food labelling is not best for the planet or your budget

UK supermarkets have <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/03/which-supermarkets-are-scrapping-best-before-dates-and-why-17117556/">removed “best before” dates</a> on thousands of fresh food products in an effort to reduce food waste. One of the major supermarket chains, Sainsbury’s, is replacing these labels with product messaging that says “<a href="https://www.fruitnet.com/fresh-produce-journal/sainsburys-axes-best-before-dates-on-more-fruit-and-veg/247057.article">no date helps reduce waste</a>”. Apples, bananas, potatoes, cucumbers and broccoli are among the most wasted foods. Removing “best before” labels from these foods alone will reduce waste by an estimated <a href="https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/food-drink/initiatives/food-waste-reduction-roadmap">50,000 tonnes a year</a>. In Australia we produce <a href="https://www.fial.com.au/sharing-knowledge/food-waste">7.6 million tonnes of food waste every year</a> – about 300kg per person. <a href="https://workdrive.zohopublic.com.au/external/ba011474a921ef40d77287a482fc9b257083a646708e3b38b6debeea81cdf81b">About 70%</a> of what we throw out is still edible. Why aren’t we following the UK’s example? Some might worry about food safety. But two types of date labels – “best before” and “use by” – are used in Australia. “Use by” labels would still alert us to when food can no longer be regarded as safe to eat. And consumers will still be able to assess the state of fresh produce for themselves. <h2>Food waste has huge impacts</h2> Food waste costs Australia <a href="https://workdrive.zohopublic.com.au/external/ba011474a921ef40d77287a482fc9b257083a646708e3b38b6debeea81cdf81b">A$36.6 billion a year</a>. This waste occurs right across the supply chain, including primary production, manufacturing, distribution, retail and hospitality. However, households produce more than half of the waste, at an average cost per household of A$2,000 to $2,500 a year. In 2017, the Australian government <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/food-waste?state=tas#national-food-waste-strategy">pledged to halve food waste</a> by 2030 when it launched the <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/publications/national-food-waste-strategy">National Food Waste Strategy</a>. This is a complex issue, but one simple solution could be to follow the UK and remove “best before” dates. <h2>How will you know if food is still safe?</h2> Our labelling system is fairly straightforward, but many consumers don’t understand the difference between “best before” and “use by”. This confusion leads them to throw away tonnes of food that’s still suitable for eating. In Australia, the regulatory authority <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/labelling/dates/Pages/default.aspx">Food Standards</a> provides guidance for manufacturers, retailers and consumers on using dates on product labels. These dates indicate how long food products can be sold, and kept, before they deteriorate or become unsafe to eat. Food with a “best before” date can be legally sold and consumed after that date. These products should be safe, but may have lost some of their quality. Products past their “use by date” are considered not safe. The food supplier is responsible for placing date labels on the product. Differences in packaging and date labelling can be subtle. For example, lettuce sold loose or in an open plastic sleeve does not have a “best before” date. The same lettuce packaged in a sealed bag does. Bread is the only fresh food that uses a different system with “baked on” or “baked for” date labels. Some foods, such as canned goods and food with a shelf life of two years or more, don’t have to be labelled with “best before” dates because they usually retain their quality for many years. They are typically eaten well before they deteriorate. Food producers and retailers are keen to keep the labelling status quo, because it makes it easier to <a href="https://www.vox.com/22559293/food-waste-expiration-label-best-before">manage stock</a> and <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1509/jppm.14.095">encourages turnover</a>. <h2>The case for packaging</h2> Some packaging is used to separate branded products such as fruit varieties protected by <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-case-of-the-pirated-blueberries-courts-flex-new-muscle-to-protect-plant-breeders-intellectual-property-126763">plant breeders’ rights</a>, organic products and imperfect vegetable ranges. Once packaged, these products require a “best before” date. Plastic packaging can greatly increase the shelf life of some vegetables. In these cases, it effectively reduces food waste. A striking example is cucumbers. Plastic wrap can extend their shelf life from a <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-some-plastic-packaging-is-necessary-to-prevent-food-waste-and-protect-the-environment-117479">few days to two weeks</a>. Vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower contain beneficial anti-cancer compounds called <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2016.00024/full">glucosinolates</a>. Plastic packaging that seals in <a href="https://www.food-safety.com/articles/1324-naturally-preserving-food-with-gases">specialty gas</a> preserves these longer. However, overcooking quickly erases this packaging benefit. <figure class="align-center "></figure> <h2>Dead or alive?</h2> The chemistry of a fruit or vegetable starts changing the moment it is picked. Some types of produce, such as bananas and pears, are picked early so they ripen in the shop and at home. Other produce, such as sweet corn and peas, rapidly decline in the quality and quantity of flavours and nutrients once they’re picked. Snap freezing is an excellent way to preserve this produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables are still alive. Their cells remain full of chemical reactions and enzymatic activity. This is why a cut apple turns brown. It’s also why ethylene gas released from bananas and other fruits can shorten the life of their neighbours in the fruit bowl. Potatoes, one of the most wasted products, are sold with “best before” dates when packaged in plastic bags. But if stored correctly in low light and in a “breathable” bag (paper or hessian), potatoes stay “alive” and edible for months. Just make sure you cut away any green parts, which <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-you-really-be-poisoned-by-green-or-sprouting-potatoes-63437">contain toxic solanine</a>. As well as fresh produce’s own cellular activity, there is microbial activity in the form of bacteria and fungi. Fortunately, we come equipped with a number of evolved chemical sensors. We can <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-avoid-food-borne-illness-a-nutritionist-explains-153185">feel, see, sniff and taste</a> the state of fruits, vegetables and other products. Trust (and train) your instincts. <h2>Questions to ask yourself</h2> To reduce food waste, we need a combination of approaches, including appropriate packaging, sensible labelling and consumer awareness. Ideally, the <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/pages/default.aspx">Australian and New Zealand Food Standards Code</a> would be updated to reflect a more nuanced view of packaged fresh foods. In the short term, consumer awareness and buying power are the best drivers of change. Ask yourself questions like: <ul> <li> Do I need a packaged product? </li> <li> Does the packaging enhance shelf life? </li> <li> Would I buy less if it wasn’t packaged? </li> </ul> Thinking about these questions will help us reduce the impacts of food waste.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/189686/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-grimmer-212082">Louise Grimmer</a>, Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation.</a> Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-best-before-food-labelling-is-not-best-for-the-planet-or-your-budget-189686">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Food & Wine

Shoppers stunned by hilarious labelling mistake

Shoppers in the meat section of an Adelaide supermarket didn’t know quite what to think when they noticed an unfortunate typo on a packet of gourmet sausages. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail reports</a> the ‘fresh from the farm’ sausages were spotted by a woman doing her groceries in her local Foodland in Valley View, and she couldn’t miss the opportunity to take a photo and upload the unfortunate typo on social media. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F3awbreakfast%2Fphotos%2Fa.132102302792.112368.116765482792%2F10155324010522793%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="516" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> The image has since been picked up by 3AW Breakfast and is now starting to do the rounds on social media, with many commenters poking fun at the labelling error. “I suspect that’s an honest listing of ingredients,” one person wrote. “At least we know where our food comes from,” said another. “They’re not bunnings, but sound exotic ... No wastage there!” one optimistic person said. What are your thoughts? Have you ever seen a funny labelling mistake? Image: Facebook

Food & Wine

Edwina Bartholomew labels daughter a “monster”

Edwina Bartholomew has labelled her daughter a “monster” as she juggles parenthood just months after giving birth to her second child. The Sunrise presenter <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/edwina-bartholomew-announces-the-birth-of-her-son" target="_blank" rel="noopener">welcomed her second child</a>, baby Thomas, with her husband Neil Varcoe on March 1st. Edwin has since returned to work and confessed that her two-year-old daughter Molly is struggling to get used to her baby brother. "The toddler, well, she just turned. Our gentle girl morphed into a monster within a few weeks and I frankly struggled to cope," she confessed in her weekly column for <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/smart/edwina-bartholomew-food-on-the-walls-temper-tantrums-in-mildly-chaotic-life-as-family-of-four/news-story/507fed64cd9d195f037f8e39be665593" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a>. "There was food on the walls, full-blown tantrums on the floor, screaming and that was just me." <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgsQj6EBD1c/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgsQj6EBD1c/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Edwina Bartholomew (@edwina_b)</a> </div> </blockquote> The 39-year-old was constantly told by other parents that adjusting from a family-of-three to four would be a challenge. She would spend countless hours Googling “How to deal with toddler tantrums” and “When do babies get teeth” as she settled with her new bub. After having Molly, she thought she had parenting “down pat”, which was true for a while as Thomas “loves to sleep, loves to eat and loves to smile”. Despite all these good things Edwina wrote that “his arrival still managed to turn the family upside down” with her daughter’s tantrums. But seeing the two bond makes her “heart explode” and despite going back to work she still “misses them”. “Watching my daughter blow raspberries on my son’s little tummy makes my heart explode every time and, although her cuddles border on suffocation, his little face lights up when he’s on the receiving end of one of her aggressive squeezes. “When I say I’m “happily” back at work, I really do mean it. It feels good to get a little bit of myself back.” Images: Instagram

Family & Pets

Labelling ‘fake art’ isn’t enough. Australia needs to recognise and protect First Nations cultural and intellectual property

The latest <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/indigenous-arts/draft">draft report</a> from the Productivity Commission on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts confirms what First Nations artists have known for decades: fake art harms culture. Released last week, the report details how two in three Indigenous-style products, souvenirs or digital imagery sold in Australia are fake, with no connection to – or benefit for – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This is a long-standing problem. As Aboriginal Elder Gawirrin Gumana (Yolngu) <a href="https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1133887?from=list">explained</a> in 1996, "When that [white] man does that it is like cutting off our skin." The Productivity Commission has proposed all inauthentic Indigenous art should be labelled as such. But we think a much bolder conversation needs to happen around protecting the cultural and intellectual property of Indigenous artists. Australia has no national licensing or production guidelines to protect Indigenous cultural and intellectual property within commercial design and digital spaces. Our work hopes to see this change. <h2>‘This is storytelling’</h2> <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/318268">Our research</a> focuses on supporting and representing First Nations artists within design and commercial spaces, understanding how to ensure cultural safety and appropriate payment and combat exploitation. Many First Nations artists we spoke to told us stories of exploitative business models. They were blindly led into licensing agreements and client relations that were not culturally safe. Clients thought commissioning a design equated to “owning” the copyright to First Nations art, culture and knowledge. Gudanji/Wakaja artist and winner of the 2022 NAIDOC poster competition <a href="https://nardurna.com/">Ryhia Dank</a> told us, "We need clear recognition, structures and licensing guidelines to protect all of what First Nations ‘art’ represents. I know a lot of us, as we are starting out don’t know how to licence our work […]" "One of my first designs was for a fabric company and I didn’t licence the design correctly, so that company is still using my design and I only once charged them $350 and that was it. Having legal support from the start is critical." Arrernte and Anmatyerre graphic novelist <a href="https://www.stickmobstudio.com.au/">Declan Miller</a> explained how many clients and businesses are misguided in thinking commissioning a design equates to owning the copyright to First Nations knowledges. “Our art is not just art,” he said. "Clients need to be aware this is storytelling. This is culture. We will always own that. But we are happy for clients to work with us, and use our art and pay us for it, but we have to keep that integrity. This is our story, this is where we are from, this is who we are and you can’t buy that or take that from us." <h2>Protecting property</h2> Transparent labelling of inauthentic art is a great start, but there is more work needed. Intellectual property laws and processes should adequately protect First Nations art. “Indigenous cultural and intellectual property” refers to the rights First Nations people have – and want to have – to protect their traditional arts, heritage and culture. This can include communally owned cultural practices, traditional knowledge and resources and knowledge systems developed by First Nations people as part of their First Nations identity. First Nations products should be supplied by a First Nations business that protects Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, with direct benefits to First Nations communities. The outcomes of our research have resulted in the recent launch of <a href="https://solidlines.agency/">Solid Lines</a> – Australia’s only First Nations illustration agency to be led by First Nations people. An integral part of this agency is the Indigenous cultural and intellectual property policy designed specifically for the design and commercial art industry. The agency hopes this policy, created with <a href="http://marrawahlaw.com.au/">Marrawah Law</a>, will help create and support culturally safe and supportive pathways for First Nations creatives. For First Nations artists represented by Solid Lines, our policy also means obtaining culturally appropriate approval to use family or community stories, and knowledges and symbols that are communally owned. <h2>Recognition and protection</h2> The report from the Productivity commission focuses on fake art coming in from overseas, but fake art also happens in our own backyard. In our research, we have spoken to Elders, traditional custodians, and community leaders who are concerned that Western and Central Desert designs, symbols and iconography are now used by other First Nations across Australia. This work often undermines customary laws and limits economic benefits flowing back to communities. Community designs, symbols and iconography are part of a cultural connection to a specific land or country of First Nations people. Embracing Indigenous cultural and intellectual property policies will mean designs, symbols and iconography can only be used by the communities they belong to. The Productivity Commission calculated the value of authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, crafts, and designs sold in Australia in 2019-2020 at A$250 million. This will only continue to grow as Australia’s design and commercial industries continue to draw upon the oldest continuing culture in the world. Visible recognition and protection of First Nations cultural and intellectual property will allow for new creative voices to respectfully and safely emerge within Australian art and design industries. Through embracing guidelines around Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, First Nations artists will be supported in cultural safety, appropriate payment and combat exploitation. This is the next step beyond labelling inauthentic art. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/labelling-fake-art-isnt-enough-australia-needs-to-recognise-and-protect-first-nations-cultural-and-intellectual-property-187426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Art

Labels like ‘psycho’ or ‘schizo’ can hurt. We’ve workshopped alternative clinical terms

It is common to hear people use stigmatising, discriminatory and hurtful labels such as “psycho”, “schizo” or “totally bipolar”. Others might minimise conditions by saying they too are “a bit OCD” because they value structure and organisation. This kind of <a href="https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6963-7-97">everyday use of pseudo-clinical terms</a> can be upsetting for young people who are struggling with these conditions. Worse still, it can stop them seeking care. Clinical terms can have the same effect. For our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092099642100356X">recent research</a>, we worked with young patients, carers and clinicians to develop new mental health vocabulary that carries less stigma, but remains accurate. <h2>Mental health labels have pros and cons</h2> Labels can provide concise and understandable descriptions of clinical and theoretical ideas. Diagnoses enable patients and health professionals to follow evidence-based advice for effective care, because <a href="https://www.nice.org.uk/">best practice guidelines</a> are available for all labelled medical conditions. In other words, naming a condition is the first step towards identifying the best treatment available. Labels can also help create communities of individuals who share a similar clinical description, and reassure individuals they are not alone. On the other hand, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1925070/">labels</a> can result in <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/should-we-be-concerned-about-stigma-and-discrimination-in-people-at-risk-for-psychosis-a-systematic-review/0E3509EA0A8E19293077C2645D643350">stigma and discrimination</a>, poor engagement with services, increased anxiety and suicidal thoughts, and poorer mental health. The process of posing a diagnosis, may treat an individual’s strengths or their vulnerabilities as abnormalities and pathologise them. For example, a young person’s vivid imagination and artistic drive – strengths that allow them to produce wonderful artwork – might be recast as a sign of illness. Or their experience of growing up in poverty and disadvantage, could be seen as the cause of their mental illness, rather than environmental factors that may have merely contributed to it. As such, clinicians should seek to understand a person’s difficulties through a holistic, humanistic and psychological perspective, prior to giving them a label. <h2>New terms, changing approaches</h2> In the past decade, there have been efforts to <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00478-8/fulltext">improve naming of psychiatric disorders</a>. Attempts to update psychiatric terms and make them more culturally appropriate and less stigmatising have resulted in renaming schizophrenia in several countries. Proposed terms such as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-7893.2010.00203.x">Si Jue Shi Tiao</a> (thought and perceptual dysregulation) in Hong Kong, and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(13)61776-6.pdf">Johyenonbyung</a> (attunement disorder) in South Korea, have been suggested as alternatives that carry less stigma and allow a more positive view of psychiatry. These new terms, however, were generated by experts in the field. Consumers and clients within the mental health system have rarely been consulted, until now. <h2>Thoughts from those ‘at risk’</h2> Currently, “ultra-high risk (for psychosis)”, “at-risk mental state” and “attenuated psychosis syndrome” are used to describe young people at elevated risk of developing psychosis. But these labels can be stigmatising and damaging for the young people who receive them. At Orygen, new, less stigmatising ways to describe the “risk for psychosis” concept <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092099642100356X">were co-developed</a> with young people with lived experience of mental ill-health. During focus groups, former patients were asked how they would like their experiences to be termed if they were believed to be at risk for developing a mental illness. This discussion resulted in them generating new terms such as “pre-diagnosis stage”, “potential for developing a mental illness” and “disposition for developing a mental illness”. The terms were then presented to three groups: 46 young people identified as being at risk for psychosis and currently receiving care; 24 of their caregivers; and 52 clinicians caring for young people. Most thought these new terms were less stigmatising than the current ones. The new terms were still judged as informative and illustrative of young people’s experiences. Patients also told us they wanted terms like these to be fully disclosed and raised early in their care. This revealed a desire of transparency when dealing with mental ill-health and clinicians. <h2>Names have power</h2> Labels can, and should, be revisited when stigma becomes associated with them. Co-designing new diagnostic labels with patients, their carers and clinicians is empowering for all involved. Several similar projects are underway in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920996420301572">Italy</a> and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pcn.12423">Japan</a> to include a cultural perspective in renaming terms related to young people at risk of developing serious mental ill health. We hope to integrate and use more terms generated by young people in mainstream early intervention psychiatric services. We hope this will have a meaningful impact on young people’s mental health by allowing better access to care and less stigmatisation. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/labels-like-psycho-or-schizo-can-hurt-weve-workshopped-alternative-clinical-terms-179756" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Mind

A Father's emotional "anti-vax" Facebook post labeled a hoax

Image: Getty A Sydney father’s declaration that his “beautiful” seven-year-old son died in the back of an ambulance of a “massive heart attack” days after receiving his Covid-19 vaccine has been labelled a hoax by authorities. In a long Facebook comment, that swiftly drummed up thousands of likes, comments and shares, “Steve Leary” claimed he lost his son “Lachlan” last Wednesday “to the vaccine”. “He had been unwell on Wednesday night with a fever and we monitored him closely, 6 am the next morning he started having breathing difficulties so we took him to Westmead Hospital. They tried to stop us from going in with him but it did not work,” the comment, which, along with the profile was taken down. “4 hours passed after many tests. He was sent home 5 hours later. Friday morning at 4 am we heard him yell out, he was on his bedroom floor, he then collapsed, he was not breathing, my wife and I began CPR, I called the ambo on loud speaker. “Ambo arrived within 7 mins, my son passed away in the ambulance. He had a massive heart attack … The government has ruined my family, they have taken away our only son, we put our trust in the government to keep us safe and they killed my boy!!!!” Officials believe that Leary’s comment was nothing more than a renewed attempt from anti-vaxxers to discourage parents from booking their children in for the jab. There is no record of a Lachlan Leary who died in Sydney last week — or at all. According to NSW health, “it has not been able to locate any record of any such incident”. “There are many inaccurate posts currently circulating on social media,” The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where Leary claims “Lachlan” was taken, wrote on Facebook, refuting the claims. “There is no record of any child having passed away following Covid vaccination at our hospital.” Leary’s claim comes just a week after five- to 11-year-olds became eligible to receive the Covid-19 jab. In a statement to 7 News, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — which records all adverse events associated with the Covid-19 vaccines — also dismissed Leary’s claim. The TGA said it “has not received any adverse event reports involving the death of any children aged between 5 and 11 years”.

Caring

Pope labels couples choosing pets over children as selfish

Pope Francis has called couples who have pets instead of children selfish while speaking to a general audience on Wednesday. The Pope also argued that forgoing parenthood "takes away our humanity" and poses risks to wider society. He made the comments while speaking about Saint Joseph, Jesus' earthly father. While lauding Joseph's decision to raise Jesus as "among the highest forms of love", the Pope veered onto the topics of adoption, orphaned children, and couples that opt for animals over children. "We see that people do not want to have children, or just one and no more", he <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/opting-for-pets-over-children-is-selfish-and-takes-away-our-humanity-says-pope-francis/fc15279d-cfdb-4b58-85d0-5bdcef68bdfe" target="_blank">said</a>. “And many, many couples do not have children because they do not want to, or they have just one - but they have two dogs, two cats … yes, dogs and cats take the place of children. “Yes, it’s funny. I understand, but it is the reality. And this denial of fatherhood or motherhood diminishes us, it takes away our humanity. And in this way civilisation becomes aged and without humanity, because it loses the richness of fatherhood and motherhood. And our homeland suffers, as it does not have children.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Dear Pope Francis I’m a catholic who chose dogs over children but I don’t consider myself selfish. Probably doing this over populated world a favour <a href="https://t.co/9AMFs2JS9p">pic.twitter.com/9AMFs2JS9p</a> — dominic dyer (@domdyer70) <a href="https://twitter.com/domdyer70/status/1479116896867794948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2022</a></blockquote> Though it may be surprising as the Pope is considered quite progressive, these comments echo the Catholic Church’s teachings about the importance of couples bearing or raising children. Pope Frances said couples who cannot biologically have children should consider adoption. “How many children in the world are waiting for someone to take care of them?” he said. “Having a child is always a risk, either naturally or by adoption. But it is riskier not to have them. It is riskier to deny fatherhood, or to deny motherhood, be it real or spiritual.” His statements have since drawn criticism on social media, with some calling out his comments about childless couples while the church continues to face allegations of sexual abuse against children. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Worry about all those sexual abuse allegations against the church instead of childless people <a href="https://t.co/5ggoAJTpGr">pic.twitter.com/5ggoAJTpGr</a> — Enter The Void (@killl_the_rich) <a href="https://twitter.com/killl_the_rich/status/1478832192591695874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2022</a></blockquote> The Christian leader has made several controversial statements relating to animals in the past. He made similar comments about couples choosing pets over parenthood in 2014, while comments he made in 2016 that appeared to claim that animals go to heaven were analysed and later called into question. But, he has had plenty of positive interactions too, having been photographed petting dogs, holding birds, and carrying a lamb over his shoulders. Image: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Kmart label fail sends shoppers into stitches

A Kmart shopper has spotted a hilariously incorrect warning on a label attached to a branded set of curtain lights. Taking to the Kmart decor Facebook group, the customer shared the bizarre label with fellow shoppers that read: “if the cable of the light chain is damaged, it cannot be repaired and the dog must be destroyed.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842427/kmart-plus-lynne-home-and-away.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3adc5a974cf14ea5859018831457badd" /> Image: Facebook The woman captioned the hilarious image with: “I guess it’s a good thing we’re not dog people. “Who knew string lights could do such a thing?” Many could not decipher what the typo or intended joke actually meant, but the bizarre instructions left Facebook users in stitches. “That’s a bit harsh,” one person wrote. “That escalated quickly,” another added. “What bloody dog?!” a third comment read. Another shopper offered a hilarious alternative to the label, suggesting that the “person who wrote this was like ‘I wonder if anyone actually reads these… let’s put something weird and see.”

Beauty & Style

Piers Morgan labels Prince Harry as a "spineless self-pitying twerp"

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Piers Morgan has blasted Prince Harry after the Duke of Sussex said that the First Amendment is "bonkers". Prince Harry said in a podcast with actor Dax Shepard that he's "got so much I want to say about the First Amendment as I sort of understand it, but it is bonkers. “I don’t want to start going down the First Amendment route because that’s a huge subject and one which I don’t understand because I’ve only been here a short time. “But, you can find a loophole in anything. You can capitalise or exploit what’s not said rather than uphold what is said.” Morgan, 56, was furious with the royal, saying that Prince Harry was a "spineless whiny crybaby". “Harry’s gone from being a courageous war hero to a spineless whiny crybaby who blames his family for all his supposed woes and who like his wife, shamelessly and cynically weaponises issues like mental health and racism to silence critics. “Harry has lost his country, his dignity and now seems to be losing his mind too as he condemns everything from his grieving grandmother to free speech. “It’s time His Royal Hypocrite stopped abusing his family, stopped moaning about everything all the bloody time, stopped exploiting his royal titles for huge financial gain, stopped trashing America’s constitution – and grew a pair.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO0ZB1Gptmw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO0ZB1Gptmw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Armchair Expert Podcast (@armchairexppod)</a> </div> </blockquote> Prince Harry also angered royal fans with his comments about the royal family as he said that he felt like he had to leave. Harry continued: “Look what it did to my mum. How am I ever going to settle down and have a wife and a family when I know that it’s going to happen again because I’ve seen behind the curtain? "I’ve seen the business model, I know how this operation runs, how it works. I don’t want to be part of this. Then once I started doing therapy the bubble was burst. I plucked my head out of the sand. I said, ‘You are in this position of privilege. "Stop complaining, stop thinking as though you want something different. Make this different, because you can’t get out. So how are you going to do this differently? How are you going to make your mum proud? How are you going to use this platform to really effect change’?” </div> </div> </div>

News

Europe's COVID-19 vaccine suspension labelled "an overreaction"

European countries who are pausing the rollout of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are "overreacting" according to an expert. It comes as the Federal Government has assured Australians the vaccine is safe. Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal are the latest countries to suspend the vaccine amid reports of blood clots in some recipients. But both the company behind the jab and European regulators have said there is no evidence the shot is to blame. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told Today expert medical advice maintained the jab was safe. "The World Health Organisation and the European equivalent of the TGA have both confirmed the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine and have said they have no evidence of that causal link between the vaccine and blood clots," Mr Frydenberg said. "In the United Kingdom they have successfully rolled out that vaccine, more than 12 million doses. They haven't seen that pattern or those trends in those people who have received it." Dr Paul Griffin, an infectious disease physician in Brisbane, said the reports of clots are small compared to the number of people who have received the jab. "This is an overreaction," Dr Griffin told Today. "AstraZeneca released some really useful information where they have looked at over 17 million who have received this vaccine. There's only been 37 or so of these events which would be less than you'd expect in a population of this size. "So this is an overreaction and we can still be confident of the safety of the vaccine." Dr Griffin added that European health authorities are acting very cautiously. "I think it's just the way they operate. I think they like to overreact," he said. "That's how we've seen some respond to other events that were proven to be unrelated. "It's the right thing to do to investigate that to make sure none of those events represent a safety concern. In this case, we have enough information to know that is the case. "The WHO (World Health Organisation) and the EMA (European Medicines Agency) have all said these events don't appear to be linked and the vaccines are safe." Chairman of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Jane Halton told appeared on the Today show saying she is not worried about the issues raised by Europe. "I'll be surprised if there's a fundamental problem here. That's exactly why people monitor for these kinds of events," she said. "I know our authorities are watching this. "Everyone should not be too worried about this. What the authorities in Europe are doing is doing what you want them to do, which is to just double-check." Australia received its first shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine in late February.

News

Peter Dutton labelled "tone deaf" during Question Time

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has been slammed after shutting down Labor leader Anthony Albanese during his speech around Brittany Higgins and the March 4 Justice protests. In Question Time on Monday, Dutton walked up to the podium to cut off Albanese as he spoke about Higgins and the thousands protesting around the nation. Albanese moved to suspend standing orders during Question Time so that a motion could be put forward, including that an independent inquiry is held around Brittany Higgins. He also put forward four actions and went on to talk about the Prime Minister's response to Higgin's rape allegations. Dutton cut short Albanese's speech and asked that he "no longer be heard". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Here it is. My wife and I literally shouted at the television. On this of all days. <a href="https://t.co/QF84GSF0jz">pic.twitter.com/QF84GSF0jz</a> — Foxy Bogan (@foxybogan) <a href="https://twitter.com/foxybogan/status/1371324997722021891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2021</a></blockquote> Albanese appeared surprised and in shock at the move by Dutton. However, Dutton was within his rights to do so as the Prime Minister and a number of Liberal party figures face criticism for their handling of a range of recent allegations as well as not attending the Canberra rally. Scott Morrison has also been criticised for saying that rallies such as "March 4 Justice" are "met with bullets" in other countries. “It is good and right, Mr Speaker, that so many are able to gather here in this way, whether in our capital or elsewhere, and to do so peacefully to express their concerns and their very genuine and real frustrations,” he said during Question Time. “This is a vibrant liberal democracy, Mr Speaker, not far from here, such marches, even now, are being met with bullets, but not here in this country.” Albanese has described the PM's response as "not so much a tin ear as a wall of concrete". “(Women are) crying out that this is a moment that requires leadership, and it requires leadership from this prime minister. And we are not getting it, Prime Minister,” he said. Mr Albanese read out Ms Higgins’ quote: “I watched as the Prime Minister of Australia publicly apologised to me through the media, while privately his media team actively undermined and discredited my loved ones.” </div> </div> </div>

News

Pension payment increase labelled "inadequate"

Over five million Australians are expected to receive an increase in their social security payments from March 20. Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the increases, in line with indexation arrangements, would help recipients keep up with changes in living costs. The rates for 2.6 million Age Pensioners as well as 750,000 people on the Disability Support Pension and 295,000 Carer Payment recipients will increase by $8.40 a fortnight to $952.70 for singles. For couples, the pension will increase by $12.60 a fortnight to $1,436.20 combined. Both rates include the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement. Ruston explained indexation was one of the “regular mechanisms” built into the social security safety net “to make sure rates reflect the prices payment recipients see at the supermarket and at the bowser”. The JobSeeker payment will also be increasing for those aged 22 and over without children. Singles will be receiving an extra $5.10 a fortnight, and couples will be receiving $4.60 extra each including the Energy Supplement. The Australian Council of Social Service believes the rate is still inadequate and is urging senators to make changes to a bill before parliament to be more generous.

Retirement Life

“Please explain”: Customer demands answers from Coles over confusing milk label

A Coles shopper has spotted a misleading label on its home brand milk and demanded answers. Taking to the Coles Facebook page, the customer from Tasmania wanted to purchase a bottle of Coles Full Cream Milk, which was advertised on the front label as a product of Tasmania. However, on the back of the bottle it stated the milk was “sourced from Queensland farms and bottled in Queensland”. The frustrated customer asked Coles to “please explain” as she posted a photo of the milk in question. The shopper had purchased the bottle from Coles Burnie in Tasmania and said it was important for her to shop local. “Tasmanian products are very important to me,” she wrote. Another customer responded to the post and said they found it hard to purchase and support local farmers. “Milk is ‘frustrating’ to purchase. You try to do the right thing and support your local farmers, but dig a little deeper and many of what you think are small independently run/owned brands are not!” a user wrote. A spokesperson for the grocery store apologised for the mishap and clarified to Yahoo News Australia that a number of bottles sold in Tasmanian stores had been labelled incorrectly. “All Coles Brand milk sold in Tasmania is supplied by Tasmanian dairy farmers and bottled locally. “This is an unfortunate labelling error that impacted a small number of bottles and is currently being fixed. “We apologise to our Tasmanian customers for any confusion,” a Coles spokesperson told Yahoo News.

Food & Wine

Karl Stefanovic labels Richard Reid “tosser of the highest order”

Today morning show star Karl Stefanovic and occasional Studio 10 co-host Richard Reid have appeared on Kyle and Jackie O’s radio show to blast each other. Stefanovic appeared on the KIIS FM’s breakfast show when he was asked how he had first felt when Reid revealed on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! last year that the Today star had “hair plugs”. “So I go into the hair room, and this guy looks up and he’s kinda like balding. It was Karl Stefanovic without his spray-on hair … And then he went away and got hair plugs,” Reid said in the jungle. Well, it appears the Stefanovic took the I’m A Celeb star’s words to heart as he said he was “a tosser of the highest order”. “Richard and I have had a beautiful relationship over many years,” Stefanovic said to Kyle and Jackie O. “I never really saw him in person because he was always too busy flapping about. “When he said it (on I’m A Celeb) … I just thought, ‘You’re just a tosser! Richard Reid is a tosser of the highest order!’” Kyle and Jackie O proceeded to ring Reid after Karl’s segment ended to ask his thoughts on the “tosser” comments. “I think it might be a little stretch that our relationship was beautiful,” Reid said. “You two don’t like each other?” Kyle asked. “I like Karl just fine,” Reid replied. “I like him just fine, in small doses. I don’t have a problem with Karl … not much.” When asked why he had a bad relationship with Stefanovic, Reid went on to say: “Karl got a little full of himself. He started talking about himself in the third person. I just like everyone to be down to earth and accessible. He just got a little full of himself and I didn’t really care for that.” Reid also had a dig at the Today show’s poor ratings over the past few years, saying, “I kind of turned off like the rest of Australia”. Karl Stefanovic is currently back on air as host of the Today show after quitting back in 2018, alongside Allison Langdon. Richard Reid, who won I’m A Celeb last year, is a regular co-host on Studio 10.

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A Father's emotional "anti-vax" Facebook post labeled a hoax

Pope labels couples choosing pets over children as selfish

Kmart label fail sends shoppers into stitches

Piers Morgan labels Prince Harry as a "spineless self-pitying twerp"

Europe's COVID-19 vaccine suspension labelled "an overreaction"

Peter Dutton labelled "tone deaf" during Question Time

Pension payment increase labelled "inadequate"

“Please explain”: Customer demands answers from Coles over confusing milk label

Karl Stefanovic labels Richard Reid “tosser of the highest order”

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