Good afternoon.
Ultra-processed foods now make up nearly half of the average Australian’s diet because the country has “fallen behind international best practice” on nutrition, a co-author of a major new global report says.
The report found Australia, alongside the US and the UK, has some of the highest consumption rates of UPFs, which have become a “central part of dietary patterns for most of the population” and are a “key driver … of multiple diet-related chronic diseases”.
Foods including ready meals, cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks and fast food are associated with an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.
“There are no taxes on sugar and soft drinks [like] other countries are doing,” said Prof Mark Lawrence, a co-author of the series from Deakin University.
Top news
The $9tn cost to Australians: how a ‘misrepresented’ figure on net zero took on a life of its own
Australian cricket great Glenn McGrath dropped by the ABC over betting agency links
Tropical Cyclone Fina on torrential path to hit Northern Territory coast this week
Socceroos slump to another defeat as Colombia stars make difference in New York
New York Times cuts ties with Larry Summers over Epstein emails
‘Exceptionally rare’ pink grasshopper spotted in New Zealand
In pictures
Gustav Klimt’s six-foot-tall Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer has sold for a record-breaking $364m (US$236.4m) with fees, making it the second most expensive artwork ever sold at auction and the most expensive work of modern art sold at auction.
What they said …
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“[They] are being used, quite frankly, by the boys who want to challenge but don’t have the gumption to go out and say anything themselves.” Hollie Hughes
The former senator, who lost her seat at the last federal election, resigned from the Liberals on Tuesday, accusing some of her former colleagues of undermining leader Sussan Ley. Hughes, speaking on 2GB radio, also accused the party’s conservative faction of using women to do the undermining, singling out Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Sarah Henderson.
Full Story
Are Australian weapons destined to be used in Sudan atrocities?
Australia exports more arms and ammunition to the United Arab Emirates than it does to any other country in the world. But human rights advocates are calling on the government to suspend defence exports to the country over reports it’s arming a militia responsible for mass killings in Sudan.
Senior reporters Ben Doherty and Henry Belot tell Nour Haydar about Australia’s growing role in the global weapons trade.
Before bed read
From Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones to the Hot Priest in Fleabag and of course Dr Frasier Crane, entertainment writer Michael Hogan has rounded up the game-changers whose late arrivals lifted our favourite shows.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: STAT. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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