RACHEL BROWN AGAINST STUFF

Overview

Stuff published a story on November 30, 2022 headed How plant-based athlete Brooke Donoghue fuels her mind and body. It covered the athlete’s book on plant-based eating and questions related to her lifestyle and how she looks after her mental and physical health. Rachel Brown complained the story said her diet was plant-based but then said she had butter on her toast, which was not a plant-based product. The story should have said whether Ms Donoghue was vegan or not, Ms Brown asserted.  The headline had led Ms Brown to believe the story would give information about what the athlete ate throughout the day, but it only covered what she ate for breakfast and that she took supplements.
Stuff replied that it was the athlete’s view that: “Vegan diets eliminate all animal products, while plant-based diets do not necessarily eliminate animal products, but focus on eating mostly plants, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts..." Regarding the heading, fuelling your mind and body required much more than food and this was covered in the story, Stuff said.

The Media Council believes this is a perfectly legitimate lifestyle story, and it was a matter of editorial discretion what aspects were covered. The headline was not misleading and “plant-based” is a loose term that can be applied to the kind of diet the athlete follows that focuses mainly on plants, so there is no inaccuracy. No principles have been breached.
 

Decision: There were insufficient grounds to proceed.