‘Insulting’ Anzac bungle on menu fit for a King
Source: Royal Family
An “insulting” error on the menu for food served to the King and Queen at their official welcome in Canberra is sparking comment.
The royals were hosted at an official parliamentary reception on Monday, as part of their whistlestop tour of Australia.
The event was held in the Great Hall at Parliament House, and hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancee Jodie Haydon.
While much of the focus from the King and Queen’s visit to Parliament went to the protest by independent Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe, there was another scandal brewing by Tuesday.
The menu from the function has been shared widely online, showing guests had a choice of Australian-themed nibbles such as Tasmanian gravlax salmon, wattleseed lamington and Armidale shepherd’s pie.
But one of the sweet items has raised eyebrows – apparently “Anzac cookies” were served.
Excuse me what is an Anzac “cookie”? pic.twitter.com/i8lprmYaRK
— Sarah Haar (@Sarah_Haar_) October 21, 2024
“Our diggers landed in Gallipoli 1915. The earliest recipe published for Anzac biscuits was 1916. Anzac cookie? Might as well replace the monarch with an American president,” wrote X user Hendrik Gout.
Another outraged commenter suggested that “whoever chose to use the term ‘cookie’ to describe the Anzac biscuit should be exiled and/or sent to the Parliament House torture chambers”.
Others labelled the description anything from “cringe” to an “abomination”, as well as “illegal”. And it turns out that last term might be right.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has strict guidelines around how Anzac biscuits can be marketed and described.
Its website states that commercial applications to make the iconic biscuits are normally approved, provided the product generally conforms to the traditional recipe and shape and are referred to as “Anzac biscuits” or “Anzac slice”.
“Referring to these products as ‘Anzac cookies’ is generally not approved, due to the non-Australian overtones,” the department says.
Breaching the regulations can mean up to 12 months’ jail or a fine of up to $66,000.
