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Mum fined for pumping breast milk in the car

A mum from Queensland has received a hefty fine for something she has done many times before. Meagan Schmock and her husband Benjamin were travelling home from their honeymoon on the Gold Coast when Meagan, who is a breastfeeding mum, started to feel unwell. "I was getting quite engorged and it was getting incredibly uncomfortable for me. It's throbbing, it's hot," Mrs Schmock told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/queensland-mum-fined-after-pumping-breast-milk-in-passenger-seat/e2a4be4a-7201-43df-896c-ddbff34acee8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. Meagan was in the passenger seat while her husband drove, so Meagan was able to pump breast milk for her 10-month-old son Billy. "To have to sit in the car for an hour-and-a-half, maybe two hours, waiting to get home to feed my little one, It just wasn't going to happen," Mrs Schmock said. While pumping, traffic cameras snapped a picture of the mum adjusting herself for a split second, resulting in a fine. "They have captured me taking my seatbelt off, putting it underneath my arm so I can unhook my breast pump," she said. Mrs Schmock said her seatbelt remained fastened the whole time and only slipped under her armpit for a split second. However, the manoeuver has now landed her husband a hefty infringement notice for driving with a passenger who failed to wear their seatbelt correctly. "It was $1161 and four demerit points. I was gob-smacked. I was shocked," Mrs Schmock said. "I saw the money fine first and I was just like, 'what's happened'? And then as I've unfolded the letter, I've seen this photo and then looked closer and been like, 'that's me pumping'." Mrs Schmock said she had no idea you could be fined for readjusting your seat belt, and shared the story of the fine on social media. Other mums chimed in on the incident, saying they were grateful for Meagan’s story. "I felt a lot of support from that - realising that a lot more (mums) didn't know," Mrs Schmock said. Another Queensland mum also learned the same lesson the hard way. The same seatbelt camera also captured her in the passenger seat pumping breast milk and she was fined $413 and three demerit points. "As a breastfeeding mum - and I'm sure any other mums who have breastfeed or who have pumped before know that - you can't just really wait," Mrs Schmock said. Meagan and Benjamin Schmock are now disputing the fine with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and they are considering exploring the potential for a seat belt exemption due to a medical condition. Image credits: A Current Affair

Legal

The cost of living is biting. Here’s how to spend less on meat and dairy

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-collins-7316">Clare Collins</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a> The cost of groceries has risen substantially <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/monthly-consumer-price-index-indicator/may-2023">over the last year</a>. Food and non-alcoholic drinks rose by 7.9% in the year to May, with biggest increases in dairy products (15.1%), breads and cereals (12.8%) and processed foods (11.5%). Meat costs rose by 3.8%, but the absolute increase was high, with a kilo of fillet steak costing up to A$60 for a kilogram. Australians spend around <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6530.0Main+Features12009-10?OpenDocument">15% of their weekly food budget</a> on meat and half that (7.4%) on dairy products. About <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/cost-of-living-report">43% of householders</a> say grocery prices are a cause of financial stress, with half trying to reduce spending. So how can you save money on meat and dairy products without skimping on nutrients? <h2>Meat</h2> <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups/lean-meat-and-poultry-fish-eggs-tofu-nuts-and-seeds-and">Meat</a> is a good source of protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12. Recommendations are for a maximum of three serves of cooked lean red meat a week. This includes beef, lamb, veal, pork, or kangaroo, with a serve being 65g cooked, which equates to 90–100g raw. This means purchasing 270–300g per person per week. Check prices online and weekly specials. Less expensive cuts include oyster blade, chuck or rump steak ($22–$25 per kilogram). They can be tougher, making them better for casseroles or slow cook recipes, like this <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/clares-slow-cooked-beef-stroganoff">beef stroganoff</a>. One exception is mince because higher star, lower fat, more expensive products shrink less during cooking compared to regular mince, which shrinks by 25–30%. Extend casserole and mince dishes by adding vegetarian protein sources, such as dried or canned beans and legumes. A 400g can of red kidney beans costs about $1.50 and contains 240g of cooked beans, equivalent to 1.6 standard serves. Add a can of any type of legume (black, adzuki, cannelloni, butter, chickpeas, four-bean mix, brown lentils) or use dried versions that don’t need pre-soaking like dried red lentils at about $5 per kilogram. This <a href="https://www.glnc.org.au/resource/legumes-nutrition/">adds nutrients</a> including protein, B vitamins, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and dietary fibre. <h2>Dairy</h2> Dairy products are important sources of protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and vitamins A, B2 and B12. <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/recommended-number-serves-adults">Australian recommendations</a> are for two to three serves a day for adults and four serves for women over 50. One serve is <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/serve-sizes">equivalent to</a> a cup of milk or 40g cheese. Fresh milk costs between $1.50 and $3.00 per litre depending on type and brand, while UHT milk is cheaper, about $1.60 per litre. It’s even cheaper to buy powdered milk ($10 per kilogram pack, which makes ten litres), equating to $1 per litre. Making yoghurt at home costs about $5–6 per kilogram using a powder mix and yoghurt maker ($25). Once set, divide into smaller tubs yourself. Use as a substitute for cream or sour cream. Fresh yoghurt varies from $11–$18 per kilogram, with individual serves and flavoured varieties more expensive (but not always). Compare per kilogram or per 100g prices and check for specials. Cheese prices vary a lot so compare prices per kilogram. As a guide, block cheese is cheaper than pre-sliced or grated cheese. Home brand products are cheaper than branded ones. Mature cheeses are more expensive and processed cheese least expensive. But, if you cut block cheese really thick you end up using more. Block cheese ranges from $15 to $30 a kilogram, while packets of pre-sliced cheese vary from $18 to over $30. Pre-grated cheeses range from $14 to $30 per kilo, with most around $20, and processed cheese varies from $10 to $15. Extend grated cheese by mixing with grated carrot (about $2 a kilogram) and use as a topper for tacos, wraps, pasta and pizza. Use processed cheese slices for toasted sandwiches. Most recipes work adding less cheese than specified. A high-calcium alternative to cheese in sandwiches is canned salmon, but at $15–$30 per kilogram ($6–$7 per 210g can) you add variety but may not save money. <h2>3 tips to save on your food bills</h2> 1. Have a household food budget Ensure everyone is on the same page about <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/how-to-save-money-at-the-supermarket">saving money on food and drinks</a>. <a href="https://www.suncorpgroup.com.au/news/features/food-for-thought-australians-spend-272-billion-on-food-annually">About 50% of household food dollars</a> are spent on takeaway, eating out, coffee, alcohol, food-delivery services and extras, so have a budget for <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/discretionary-food-and-drink-choices">discretionary</a> food items. This is where you can make big savings. Your household might need an incentive to stick to the budget, like voting on which “discretionary” items food dollars get spent on. 2. Have a rough weekly meal plan Use your meal plan to write a grocery list. Check <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/ingredient-swaps-to-limit-supermarket-trips-during-lockdown">what you already have</a> in the pantry, fridge and freezer. If you’re not sure where to start, look at ours at <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au">No Money No Time</a>, <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/take-our-nmnt-2-week-food-budget-challenge-and-eat-for-55-a-week">either for one person</a> or a <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/ebooks-meal-plans-more/feeding-a-growing-family-on-a-budget-meal-plan-1">family with young children</a>. 3. Avoid food waste Australians <a href="https://www.ozharvest.org/food-waste-facts/">waste 7.6 million tonnes of food</a> each year yet 70% is edible. Before heading to the shops, check your <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/creating-kitchen-space-for-christmas-and-preventing-food-waste-too">fridge</a>. Turn <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/managing-kitchen-stock-and-using-leftovers-to-minimise-food-waste">leftovers</a> into tomorrow’s lunch or dinner. When clearing the dinner table, pack leftovers straight into lunch containers so it’s grab and go in the morning (or freeze for days you’re too busy to cook). Use our resources at <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs?search=budget">No Money No Time</a> for ideas on how to help your food dollars go further. If you need food help right now, the <a href="https://askizzy.org.au/">Ask Izzy</a> website can locate services in your area.<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/206703/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-collins-7316">Clare Collins</a>, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</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/the-cost-of-living-is-biting-heres-how-to-spend-less-on-meat-and-dairy-206703">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

6 things a food poisoning expert would never eat

If you want to know how to avoid food poisoning, you better listen to food poisoning expert and lawyer Bill Marler. He’s a products liability and personal injury attorney specialising in food-borne illnesses as well as the managing partner of Marler Clark, dubbed “The Food Safety Law Firm”. With twenty years in the industry, he’s won more than $600 million in compensation claims for his clients since 1998. In an article posted in the <a href="http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/food-poisoning-information/six-foods-bill-marler-never-eats/#.VrJ3Kvl96uV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food Poisoning Journal</a>, Bill has revealed the six foods he refused to eat. Unpasteurised (“raw”) milk and packaged juices Unpasteurised milk, sometimes called “raw” milk, can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses and parasites. Between 1998 and 2011, there were 148 food poisoning outbreaks linked to raw milk and raw milk products in the US—and keep in mind that comparatively few people in the country ever consume these products, so 148 outbreaks is nothing to ignore. As for unpasteurised packaged juices, one of Marler’s earliest cases was the 1996 E. coli outbreak from unpasteurised Odwalla apple juice. As a result, he won’t go near raw milk or juice. “There’s no benefit big enough to take away the risk of drinking products that can be made safe by pasteurisation,” he says. Raw sprouts Uncooked and lightly cooked sprouts have been linked to more than 30 bacterial outbreaks (mostly of salmonella and E. coli) in the US since mid-1990s. As recently as 2014, salmonella from bean sprouts sent 19 people to the hospital. All types of sprouts - including alfalfa, mung bean, clover and radish sprouts - can spread infection, which is caused by bacterial contamination of their seeds. “There have been too many outbreaks to not pay attention to the risk of sprout contamination,” Marler says. “Those are products that I just don’t eat at all.” He did add that he does eat them if they’re cooked. Meat that isn’t well-done Marler orders his burgers well-done. “The reason ground products are more problematic and need to be cooked more thoroughly is that any bacteria that’s on the surface of the meat can be ground inside of it,” Marler says. “If it’s not cooked thoroughly to 160°F throughout, it can cause poisoning by E. coli and salmonella and other bacterial illnesses.” As for steaks, needle tenderising - a common restaurant practice in which the steak is pierced with needles or sliced with knives to break down the muscle fibres and make it more tender - can also transfer bugs from the surface to the interior of the meat. If a restaurant does this (Marler asks), he orders his steak well-done. If the restaurant doesn’t, he’ll opt for medium-well. Prewashed or precut fruits and vegetables “I avoid these like the plague,” Marler says. Why? The more a food is handled and processed, the more likely it is to become tainted. “We’ve gotten so used to the convenience of mass-produced food - bagged salad and boxed salads and precut this and precut that,” Marler says. “Convenience is great but sometimes I think it isn’t worth the risk.” He buys unwashed, uncut produce in small amounts and eats it within three to four days to reduce the risk for listeria, a deadly bug that grows at refrigerator temps. Raw or undercooked eggs You may remember the salmonella epidemic of the 1980s and early ’90s that was linked mainly to eggs. If you swore off raw eggs back then, you might as well stick with it. The most recent salmonella outbreak from eggs, in 2010, caused roughly 2,000 reported cases of illness. “I think the risk of egg contamination is much lower today than it was 20 years ago for salmonella, but I still eat my eggs well-cooked,” Marler says. Raw oysters and other raw shellfish Marler says that raw shellfish - especially oysters - have been causing more foodborne illness lately. He links this to warming waters, which produce more microbial growth. “Oysters are filter feeders, so they pick up everything that’s in the water,” he explains. “If there’s bacteria in the water it’ll get into their system, and if you eat it you could have trouble. I’ve seen a lot more of that over the last five years than I saw in the last 20 years. It’s simply not worth the risk.” Images: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

“You won’t believe it”: An a-moo-sing new addition for one Victorian farm

Megan and Barry Coster, two dairy farmers from Victoria’s West Gippsland region, were given the smiling surprise of a lifetime during their latest round of calving. “My husband was collecting calves to bring in for the day,” Megan told ABC’s rural reporter Annie Brown. “And I think I was off with the kids at sport, and I just got this text message of this calf, and he’s [Barry] like ‘you won’t believe it’. “Originally when he got the calf up he didn’t notice, and then he turned around and looked on the other side, and couldn’t believe it.” The calf, affectionately named ‘Happy’ by the family, had been born with an award-winning grin - just not where one would expect. On his side was a very unique marking - two eyes, a nose, and a big smile. When asked how old Happy was, Megan explained that he had only been born three or four days prior to the discovery, and went on to add that they had a lot of calving going on, so it was a busy time for them, and likely why they hadn’t immediately noticed what made Happy so special. “We’ve seen some number sevens, or love hearts on the head, and a few strange markings but we’ve never seen anything that resembles a smiley face before … we’ve had thousands over the years, and we’ve never had anything like it,” Megan said. “I couldn’t believe it,” she went on, before admitting she’d checked to ensure none of their staff had added any of the lines to the young cow. “And then I was pretty quickly sharing it with some of my friends - none of them could believe it either.” Megan went on to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1591950161115622/permalink/3523334507977168/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post to Facebook</a>, sharing a photo of their spectacular latest addition with the caption “the funniest marking we’ve had for a while”, to the delight of fellow dairy fans around the world. “They look fake! How awesome,” wrote one individual, who seemed to share Megan’s initial disbelief, “best marking I’ve seen.” “I guess that's his good side,” joked another. “Love it. That's got to be a keeper as a pet,” said one, unaware that the family had every intention of keeping Happy on a pet - though he might also have to pull his weight as a lawn mower. “One very happy calf,” came one declaration. One person hit the nail on the head when they said “this one will always put a smile on your face every time u c [you see] it.” Although not everyone was quite so onboard with the lovefest, with one woman admitting that she found it to be “a little bit clown-creepy”. Images: Facebook

Family & Pets

URGENT RECALL: Popular almond milk brand linked to severe illness

A popular brand of almond milk is being urgently recalled from stores around New South Wales after the product was linked to a case of botulism. Inside Out almond milk, which is stocked at Woolworths, is being removed from the shelves over fears that bottles may contain botulinum, a neurotoxin that can cause disease. NSW Health has confirmed one case of botulism, a rare but fatal illness caused by toxins attacking the body’s nerves, has been linked to the product. The person suffered “severe symptoms” and was admitted to the hospital. The director of NSW Health’s One Health branch said the illness can be fatal. "Early symptoms of foodborne botulism include weakness, fatigue and vertigo," Glasgow said. "While these symptoms occur commonly due to a number of health conditions, with botulism it is usually followed by blurred vision, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing. Nausea and vomiting may also occur." "These symptoms can progress to paralysis of the arm muscles and continue down the body to the trunk and legs, and paralysis of breathing muscles can be fatal." She added. "We are urging anyone who has consumed this product and experiences these serious symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.” Glasgow warned that “most cases” can recover if treated early. "In foodborne botulism, symptoms may begin from a few hours to several days after consuming the contaminated product," she said. Any affected products have a used-by-date of March 1, 2023. The warning comes just a day after a basketball ring set that was sold at leading sports stores across Australia for over two years was also recalled. In late January, Hyundai had to recall thousands of cars to fix a software glitch interfering with the “fail-safe” driving mode, a fault capable of causing a crash. Image credit: Getty

News

The verdict: Full fat versus low fat milk

The idea of full low milk being healthier for us began circulating in the 1950s. It was shown that saturated fat increased blood cholesterol levels, with certain statistical evidence leading to the assumption it resulted in higher rates of heart disease and obesity. This idea is not totally wrong. Full fat milk does indeed have a high saturated fat content, about 65 percent in fact. <a href="http://www.simoneaustin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Simone Austin</a>, accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for the <a href="http://daa.asn.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dietitians Association of Australia</a> addresses the claims that saturated fat should be avoided when it comes to weight management. “We are still recommending saturated fat should be kept to a minimum as there is still a link between saturated and plasma cholesterol levels, however full cream milk is only 4% total fat and is therefore not a high fat product, depending on quantity of course.” Health and nutrition coach and whole foods chef, Lee Holmes, believes that low-fat milk is a great option for those trying to lose weight. Even though the fat is skimmed, the milk itself still contains an abundance of calcium and protein, and these are essential to weight loss. “Low-fat milk is better for overall weight control and maintenance as it only contains 0.15% fat as opposed to full-cream milk which contains 3.8% fat” she explains. The New Zealand Ministry of Health recommends enjoying mostly low and reduced fat milk and milk products, as it can reduce the total daily kilojoule intake to aid with weight management. This is generally believed to lead to weight loss and reduced risk of heart disease. However, Simone explains why it is not quite that straight forward. “Fat can give some feeling of satiety. If you are having less milk overall, and it is more filling to have full cream milk, then this might decrease overall volume of food consumed and therefore not be detrimental”. This approach is supported by recent research conducted by <a href="../%20http:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26746178">Swedish researchers</a>, looking at the dairy consumption of a group of middle aged men. If found that those who ate full fat dairy products were less likely to become obese over a period of 12 years, compare with men who rarely ate high- fat diary. This is because the weight-loss effect of reducing saturated fat depends on what replaces it in the diet, which is usually sugar and carbohydrates. Unfortunately, most of us are susceptible to consciously or unconsciously replacing a larger reduction in calories with something else. So, if you drink low-fat varieties of milk in order to reduce calorie intake, you must ensure you are not making up these calories elsewhere for this approach to be effective. However, in your quest for a slimmer waist line, it is important not to overlook other important health factors. Milk is a primary source of nutrients, and according to both Simone and the <a href="http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2032&context=sspapers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABS</a>, most over-60s simply aren’t getting what they need. “In New Zealand the annual per capita consumption of milk has declined by 30% in the last 20 years, and 20% of the New Zealand population has an inadequate intake of calcium”. Simone stresses that simply aiming to meet serves is the priority. “Milk also provides a valuable source of protein and as we age our efficiency at using protein reduces, so we need to have a little more”. Lee Holmes echoes this, stating that ideally, people over 60 years of age should be having two to three glasses of cow’s milk daily to absorb the necessary amounts of calcium. If you don’t want to consume that much milk, are lactose intolerant or prefer to opt for non-cow’s milk (such as almond) you need to make these nutrients up elsewhere. “You may want to consider a quality, natural supplement to ensure you are giving your body all the nutrients it needs." So whether it be low-fat or full-fat, say cheers to milk and manage your weight loss in accordance with other health factors. Image: Getty Images

Food & Wine

Floods, pandemics, wars and market forces: what’s driving up the price of milk

At the end of 2021, the cost of a litre of home-brand milk in an Australian supermarket <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-11-25/dairy-farmers-welcome-woolworths-milk-price-lift/100650118" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was about $1.30</a>. It’s now about $1.60. What will it cost at the end of 2022? That depends on the continued effect of flooding on prime dairy-production regions in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, as well as on global economic conditions. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Science has projected <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-outlook/dairy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 28% increase</a> in the farm-gate milk price in 2022-23 – to 72.5 cents per litre, a record high. With less milk being produced, it could be even more. <hr /> Australia’s dairy regions <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?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/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><a class="source" href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/surveys/dairy#financial-performance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABARES</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY-NC-ND</a></figcaption></figure> <hr /> It’s a case of higher demand and lower supply. Production has been declining since 2014. In the first half of 2022, ABARES says milk production was about 7% lower than the same period in 2021: <blockquote> This was driven by extreme weather events: a drier than average start of the year in southern Victoria and northwest Tasmania, flooding in regions of Queensland and northern New South Wales. Also, with export prices for Australian dairy products increasing substantially at the start of 2022, less milk was available to the domestic market. </blockquote> Obviously, things aren’t all rosy. Some dairy farmers face the devastation of natural disasters. All face the same post-COVID challenges as other primary producers. Russia’s war on Ukraine has help drive up <a href="https://www.austrade.gov.au/news/insights/insight-farm-food-costs-rise-due-to-higher-energy-prices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">costs of inputs</a>, from fertilisers to <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/data/weekly-commodity-price-update/australian-agricultural-prices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">feed</a>. Labour is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/australia-needs-workers-million-are-stuck-door-2022-08-31" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hard to find</a>. But for all that, the record high farm-gate price is good news for an industry where the number of farmers has declined by a quarter in the past decade (from <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=b16a172f-6300-4ee0-918a-b235cf9da725">about 7,500</a> in 2011 to <a href="https://www.dairy.com.au/our-industry-and-people/our-regions">about 5,700</a> now). Deregulation stirs the pot Until 2000, farm-gate milk prices were regulated. State and territory governments set minimum farm-gate prices that maintained farmer income. This was abandoned in July 2000. With deregulation, farmers, processors and supermarkets were set free to negotiate prices. In economic theory, free trade works fine when you have a large number of buyers and sellers, all with the same amount of information about what is happening in the market. But in the milk industry, thousands of producers sell to a handful of milk processors, who then sell to even fewer retailers. The major supermarkets control almost <a href="https://milkvalue.com.au/australian-dairy-market/sales-trends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">60% of total milk sales</a>. This is not always such a problem. It is not often you hear fresh producers screaming at supermarkets, in what is a very similar arrangement. But with the dairy industry, as noted in a <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/review-report-dairy-industry-code.docx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 report</a> from the Department of Agriculture, Waters and the Environment, there is a “perceived market failure”. Why? It has to do with how supermarkets have used their power. Waging the milk price war To give time for the market to find an equilibrium, the Howard government introduced a “Dairy Adjustment Levy” of 11 cents per litre to support farmers through deregulation. This levy remained in place until 2008, when it was abolished by the Rudd government. Then, in 2011, the “milk war” broke out. Coles had the idea of luring shoppers from Woolworths by selling milk <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/milk-wars-leave-sour-taste-in-farmers-mouths-20120120-1q9st.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at $1 a litre</a>. Woolworths responded. Aldi joined the move. And the war kept prices artificially low for almost a decade. Supermarkets put the squeeze on processors, who had little option but to accept what was offered for crucial supermarket contracts. Processors then put the squeeze on farmers. <hr /> <iframe id="5TukM" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/5TukM/1/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <hr /> Many decided the effort was not worth it, and quit farming. Milk production peaked in 2014 then declined. Supermarkets finally abandoned $1/litre milk in 2019, under considerable public and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-23/milk-wars-whats-at-the-heart-of-dairys-battles/10838390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political pressure</a> to acknowledge that, after eight years with no increase, some rebalancing was needed. During this time, overseas demand for dairy products has also been increasing, especially in Asia. Now <a href="https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/westvic-dairy/industry-statistics/industry-reports/australian-dairy-industry-in-focus#.YzA0_nZByM9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about 32%</a> of Australian dairy production is exported – not as fresh milk, but as cheese, butter and other dairy products. (It takes about 10 litres of milk to make <a href="https://www.dairysafe.vic.gov.au/consumers/dairy-foods/cheese" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 kilogram of cheese</a>, and 20 litres to make <a href="https://www.dairysafe.vic.gov.au/consumers/dairy-foods/butter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1kg of butter</a>.) On top of that, lately US and European dairy farmers have had a hard time <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-outlook/dairy#milk-production-to-increase-but-export-volumes-to-fall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with drought</a>, increasing international prices. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s Dairy Price Index increased by more <a href="https://www.fao.org/3/cc1189en/cc1189en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">than 17%</a> from 2020 to 2021, and is expected to rise another 15% by the end of this year. <hr /> Australian milk production and farm-gate price <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?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/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><a class="source" href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/images/ac-sept-2022-dairy-fig-1-2.png">ABARES; Dairy Australia</a></figcaption></figure> <hr /> The projected 28% rise in farm-gate milk prices in 2022-23 will bring the value of the Australian dairy production to a record <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-outlook/dairy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$6.2 billion</a>. Which is good news for the long term sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. You might not appreciate it, but to keep dairy farmers in business, a fair price must be payed for your fresh milk. <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/191064/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />Writen by Flavio Macau. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/floods-pandemics-wars-and-market-forces-whats-driving-up-the-price-of-milk-191064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Udderly ridiculous: Price of milk next in line for huge hike

With the cost of living soaring, we can now add home-brand milk to the long list of products being hit by significant price hikes. In yet another hit to household budgets, Coles and Woolies will start charging more for the grocery staple, in a move that's being chalked up to rising prices at the farm gate – which in turn are being passed on to consumers. Both supermarkets will charge $1.60 for a litre of homebranded milk, $3.10 for two litres and $4.50 for a family-sized three litre. That's a steep increase of 25c on the one litre, 50c for two litres and a whopping 60c jump on three-litre bottles. Coles will also increase the cost of its long-life UHT milk from $1.35 to $1.60. “The farmgate prices paid to dairy farmers have risen significantly this season, and as a result we’re paying our own brand suppliers more for milk,” a spokesperson for Woolworths said. Coles chief commercial officer Leah Weckert said the company was aware of increased cost of living pressures and remained committed to delivering value to its customers. "Raising prices is never something we do lightly, however, the increased supply chain costs we are seeing, including higher payments to dairy farmers and processors, have necessitated these increases on Coles brand milk products,” she said. Coles started paying its dairy farmers more for their product from the beginning of this month and has also agreed to higher costs asked by processors who source the milk themselves to supply the company. Image: Getty

Money & Banking

Man's very own retro milk bar brings '50s shops back to life

An Aussie man has impressed thousands with an incredible replica of an old school milk bar that he created in his home. Sharing his project to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/504232366322711/posts/5471834082895823/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Old Shops Australia</a> Facebook page, Anthony Launer said he was inspired by his wonderful memories as a child to create his very own vintage store. Anthony built the store at his home in Thailand by bringing over the memorabilia from his native Australia, saying it "really feels like home now". "When you love the memories of the Old Shops so much as a child that you need to create one at home. A mix of wonderful memories all in the one room," the '50s-fan said. The retro room is decked out with vintage signs, advertisements, gas cans, photos, trinkets and even food and drinks. The nostalgic replica store shows how times have changed over the years with Milo being advertised as a 'tonic', cigarette signs a-plenty and displays for long-gone brands such as Bex medicines, Leed Lemonade, and Monkey Brand soap. Anthony's incredible collection awoke memories for many other group members, with the post racking up hundreds of comments. One woman said, "This is where i would sit for my morning coffee for sure, I love it." Another was so impressed they wanted to visit, asking Anthony, "What are your opening hours?!" Image credits: Facebook

Food & Wine

James Cromwell glues hand to Starbucks counter in support of animal rights

Babe actor James Cromwell caused quite a stir in a Starbucks after gluing his hand to the counter in support of animal rights. The popular coffee chain recently announced an extra charge for plant based milk which has infuriated the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organised the protest, with Cromwell taking the lead and gluing himself to the counter, calling for the surcharge to be removed. “Non-dairy products all over the world…France, they give these things away. There’s no charge for it. Here, there’s an exorbitant charge,” he said. “Why, when it’s so important now to address climate change and to understand the violence to animals to go on to make dairy products that are served here? There’s no reason for it except greed.” Police were called to the Starbucks asking the protestors to leave which they did with no arrests made. In a statement, Starbucks explained how customers are also slugged a surcharge when ordering other non-dairy milk with their orders. "Customers can customise any beverage on the menu with a non-dairy milk, including soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, and oat milk for an additional cost (similar to other beverage customisations such as an additional espresso shot or syrup)," the statement read. "Pricing varies market by market." Police were eventually called to the Starbucks and asked the protestors to leave with no arrests made. Watch the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/official.peta/videos/2237669893078098" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Images: Twitter

Travel Trouble

OAK adds two new flavours to iconic line-up

After over 50,000 entries, OAK have unveiled two new flavours dreamt up by everyday Aussies, as part of their OAK Flavour Generator competition. The two flavours are: Dan’s Cherry on Choc and Erin’s Mum’s Caramel Slice. They’re set to have already hit the shelves, having been launched on the 25th of April. Dairy fanatics everywhere are now called to buy, taste and cast their vote online to decide which will become a permanent OAK offering. Dan’s Choc on Cherry combo is described as “so coconuts”, while Erin’s Mum’s Caramel Slice flavour was inspired by her mum’s caramel slice recipe. The result is the “luscious caramel-choc milk of your dreams, fresh baked to perfection”. Both flavours are already on shelves at Coles for Aussies to try, and will be available at Woolworths from May the 16th. It’ll also roll out at independent grocery stores, convenience stores and petrol stations between the 25th of April and 2nd of May. Voting is open until June the 30th. Either Dan or Erin will take home $10,000 prize money if their flavour takes the crown. Have you tried the new flavours? Let us know what you think. Image: News.com.au

Food & Wine

RECALLED: Popular Coconut Milk pulled from Coles

This popular dairy-free milk alternative has been pulled from Coles supermarket shelves after the major retailer released a batch had been contaminated. The 1L carton of Coles Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk with the best before date of March the 31st, 2023 has been recalled because it had an undetected presence of milk. The product was for sale in Coles supermarkets, Coles Local and online in Victoria as well as Coles Lavington, Deniliquin and Albury stores in NSW. Food Standards Australia issue the recall on Friday, advising people of the contamination. “The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen – milk,” it said. “The label also incorrectly advises the product is suitable for vegans. “Any consumers who have a (milk) allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed. “Consumers who have a (milk) allergy or intolerance should not consume this product and should return the product.” As written on the packaging, the Coles Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk is dairy and lactose free and made from just five ingredients. “Our organic plant-based milk as a healthy, delicious alternative. It’s made with natural ingredients and for you to enjoy everyday,” it reads. Image: Coles

Food & Wine

McDonald’s announces arrival of Cadbury Dairy Milk McFlurry

McDonald’s Australia has announced the arrival of an all-new dessert item - the McFlurry with Cadbury Dairy Milk. Macca’s and Cadbury have teamed up to offer the exciting menu addition for a limited time. Featuring soft serve mixed with dairy milk chocolate flakes and sauce, the new McFlurry has been described as “the ultimate treat worth melting for”. The sweet creation will be available exclusively via UberEats from March 30th for one week. It will then land in Macca’s restaurants nationwide on April 6th. McDonald’s Australia Senior Brand Manager Liz Whitbread said the fast food giant was excited to offer the new dessert to Macca’s fans. “There’s nothing quite like the iconic Macca’s soft serve and the smooth and creamy taste of Cadbury chocolate,” she said. “With Cadbury celebrating 100 years in Australia, we are excited to bring together two iconic brands to create the perfect dessert or afternoon treat”. Images: Getty

Food & Wine

A supermarket in Britain has removed use-by dates in favour of the 'sniff test'

Image: Getty Grocery chain ‘Morrisons’ is being slammed after announcing a decision to scrap “use-by” dates on milk, instead asking customers to use a “sniff test” to determine if the milk has gone bad. The supermarket will switch to using “best before” dates on 90% of its home brand milk packaging from the end of January, The Sun reports. The date will remain the same but Morrisons is asking customers to not automatically assume the milk is off, but instead sniff to see whether it has expired first. Best before dates indicate that a product will have a better quality if consumed before that day, but use by means food might not be safe to eat after that point and runs the risk of making the customer sick. Morrisons said the move is intended to reduce food wastage, as millions of litres of milk are thrown away each year. It is estimated that 48 million litres of milk are wasted due to customers following “use-by” labels. Research shows milk is often fine to be used days after the use-by date the supermarket said. So yes, customers are being encouraged to smell their milk to check if it has actually gone bad before throwing it away. A sour aroma or curdled consistency are both signs milk has been spoiled. Shoppers took to Twitter to complain about the decision, with many asking how they can smell the milk while in store. However, Morrisons said that won’t be necessary because it won’t sell milk that is near the best before date. One customer said: “So, Morrisons – can we open the bottle in order to sniff it before purchase? Or do we have to go home, sniff it, then bring it back if it’s off?” Another added: “I can open the milk whilst still in Morrisons to check then I guess?” Others pointed out that one of the main symptoms of Covid is losing your sense of smell. “Generations before us have always used the sniff test – and I believe we can too” According to Ian Goode, senior milk buyer at Morrisons.

Food & Wine

McDonald's introduce cult favourite milk nation wide

Image: Getty McDonald’s have announced the long-awaited introduction of a cult favorite milk to its menus nationwide. The fast food giant revealed on Thursday the exciting news that oat milk would finally be available for customers to have in their McCafe drinks. “Together, at last. MILKLAB Oat Milk has officially joined the McCafe line-up,” a post from the restaurant’s Facebook account read. In a comment, a McDonald’s employee confirmed extra charges would apply for people who opted to have oat milk, which only be available at “participating restaurants”. The announcement comes as a welcome to hundreds of new Aussies who flooded the comments with excitement over the new inclusion. “I have been waiting so long to get an iced vanilla latte with oat milk from Maccas”, one woman wrote. Someone else joked the news was so good that “this might be the best day of my life”. While McDonald’s is yet to release a full list of stores, it was understood those with a McCafe would stock oat milk.The production of the plant milk contributes 80 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions and uses 60 per cent less energy than cow milk, while also using about ten times less water. It has earned hype among lactose intolerant people, vegans and meat eaters alike for its texture and likeness to cow’s milk. Nutritionists warn, that while it is lower in saturated fat than cow milk, it also contains less protein and calcium.

Food & Wine

When is milk chocolate good for you?

<div> <div class="copy"> It’s always gratifying to hear that our guilty pleasures can have health benefits – like dark chocolate being good for your heart, or coffee preventing chronic liver disease, or wine keeping your teeth healthy – but what about milk chocolate? Though it’s higher in fat, sugar and calories than dark chocolate, milk chocolate’s effect on your health depends on when you eat it, according to a new study published in The FASEB Journal. Spanish and US researchers set out to understand how the timing of milk chocolate consumption affects human health. Nineteen participants – all postmenopausal women – were split into groups and asked to eat no chocolate, eat 100 grams of milk chocolate within an hour of waking up, or eat the same amount an hour before going to sleep. During the study, other factors were recorded, including the participants’ weight, physical activity, hunger and cortisol levels, number of calories consumed per day, and glucose metabolism. “One of the surprises was that despite eating close to 550 kilocalories [of chocolate] per day for two weeks, people didn’t gain weight, either when taken in the morning or in the evening,” says co-researcher Frank Scheer, a neuroscientist and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “The morning group showed more fat oxidation, as opposed to the evening group, which had more carbohydrate oxidation occurring. So the mechanisms appear to be different, but both led to no weight gain in these two cohorts.” In the morning group, fasting glucose levels also went down, along with waist circumference. “Waist circumference is really thought to be primarily related to visceral fat, which has been associated with adverse metabolic effects,” says Scheer. The mechanism behind the loss of waist circumference is unclear. It may be due to the fact that 100 grams of milk chocolate is approximately 30% of a typical daily calorie intake, so participants may have cut down other food intake for the day. This study builds on previous research, which has shown that the timing of chocolate consumption in rats affected their circadian rhythms, preventing their sleep cycles from becoming disrupted during simulated jetlag. Other studies have also suggested that mistiming food intake can lead to obesity and problems controlling glucose. It’s clear that the time at which we eat is important to energy balance and metabolism. But further research is needed, with a larger and more diverse group of participants over a longer period of time, because the findings pose even more questions for the researchers. “Are these findings due to effects that the energy timing has on metabolism?” asks Scheer. “If you eat chocolate in the morning, for example, does the body, by perceiving this kind of excess energy, then dial up energy expenditure or dial down cravings for food? And then, in addition to hedonic mechanisms and energy-balance mechanisms, could it be anything more specific to the content of the micronutrients in chocolate?”  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=157513&title=When+is+milk+chocolate+good+for+you%3F" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> </div> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/nutrition/when-is-milk-chocolate-good-for-you/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/lauren-fuge">Lauren Fuge</a>. Lauren Fuge is a science journalist at Cosmos. She holds a BSc in physics from the University of Adelaide and a BA in English and creative writing from Flinders University. </div> </div>

Food & Wine

Urgent recall issued for popular milk over E. coli contamination fears

A popular milk brand has recalled several of its products after they were found to be contaminated with bacteria that can cause illness if consumed. Queensland's Kenilworth Diaries' full cream milk in the three litre, two litre and one litre sizes with a best before date of March 15, 2021, have been recalled due to E. Coli contamination. Any consumers concerned about their wellbeing should get in touch with a medical professional, and the product should be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund. The milk was sold at independent grocers and the Kenilworth Dairies Cafe in Queensland between March 1 and 5 this year.

Food & Wine

“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

URGENT RECALL: Popular milk brands recalled across the country over contamination fears

Popular almond milk brands have recalled their products over contamination concerns. MILKLAB Almond Milk and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Chocolate Almond Milk are urging anyone who purchased some of their products to return it due to “a potential microbial contamination”. “This recall includes an earlier recall by RIO Coffee of MILKLAB Almond Milk with a Best Before date of 6 AUG 2021 in SA - this recall has been removed from the website,” the recall explained. “MILKLAB Almond Milk has been available for sale nationally in various coffee shops and food service outlets.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837630/recall.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/aaed1290a85742d4970b12da5e838f6d" /> The best before dates on the MILKLAB product are the 18 June, 01 July, 20 July, 29 July and 6 August in 2021. “Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Chocolate Almond Milk has been available for sale in NSW (Coles and Woolworths), QLD (Coles and Woolworths), SA (Coles), TAS (Coles), VIC (Coles and Woolworths) and WA (Coles and Woolworths),” the recall also stated. For the Blue Diamond product, the best before date is 27 April 2021. Both the mills are 1L products and have been recalled due to “potential microbial contamination (bacteria pseudomonas)“. “Food products with microbial contamination may cause illness if consumed,” FSANZ said on their website. “Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.”

Food & Wine

Coon cheese to dump “racist” name

The Canadian owners of the Australian Coon cheese have said they will be dumping the brand’s name after careful consideration. The company sent a letter to Aboriginal activist Stephen Hagan which noted they would be honouring the memory of the brand while simultaneously encapsulating the brand’s new values. The name change follows after Mr Hagan and others notable names including actor Josh Thomas called out the brand name earlier this year, saying it was “racist”. Saputo Dairy Australia has since responded to the calls, with the company’s CEO Lino Saputo Jr saying in a statement the brand is developing a new name that will be “aligning with current attitudes and perspectives”. “We performed a careful and diligent review of this sensitive situation,” Mr Saputo Jr said. “We wanted to ensure we listened to all the concerns surrounding the COON brand name, while also considering comments from consumers who cherish the brand and recognise the origin of its founder Edward William Coon, which they feel connected to. “After thorough consideration, Saputo has decided to retire the COON brand name. As part of this process of transformation, we commit to keep our stakeholders informed as we move forward. “At this time, we are working to develop a new brand name that will honour the brand affinity felt by our valued consumers while aligning with current attitudes and perspectives.” The brand was originally named after American Edward William Coon despite being an Australian company. However, the word is also a highly offensive racial slur used towards people of colour. Dr Hagan has been lobbying for more than two decades for the company to change the brand name. In 1999 Mr Hagan took his concerns to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission about the brand name with a complaint. However, his complaint was unsuccessful. His more recent complaint said the name should be “consigned to the past of outdated racist brands’’. Earlier this year, comedian and actor Josh Thomas sparked a heated debate by posting about the brand name and asking if it was still acceptable. Many argued the brand name was historic and had nothing to do with race. Others did say they felt it was time for a change.

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