Why this pack of Anzac biscuits stocked at an IGA supermarket could be illegal – but not everyone agrees with all the fuss

A single word on a packet of Anzac biscuits sold in local supermarkets could lead to them becoming illegal.

A keen-eyed Reddit user spotted the label on the packaging of eight Anzac biscuits sold at a local IGA supermarket. The biscuits are called the iconic treat ‘biscuits’.

According to government guidelines, Anzac biscuits ‘must not deviate materially from the generally accepted recipe and shape, and must be called Anzac Biscuits or Anzac Slice, not Anzac Cookies’.

Violating these guidelines can result in heavy fines and even up to 12 months imprisonment under the Protection of Word ‘Anzac’ Act 1920.

The people commenting on Reddit were almost as unforgiving.

‘Anzac f****** WHAT NOW?????, said one user.

“Straight to jail” was another common view.

Some also pointed out that while the recipe fell within guidelines, the fact that the label could only guarantee that it was made from “at least 10 percent Australian ingredients” also took away points for patriotism.

“What should be illegal are Anzac biscuits which only contain 10 percent Australian ingredients,” one person said.

However, some considered it a trivial offense.

“It’s stupid to even notice something like that (let alone) and get angry about it,” someone said.

“Because that is the most important thing we as a nation should be concerned about,” wrote another.

Woolworths faced a furious backlash from customers in 2021 after it changed the name of the Anzac biscuits it sold to ‘golden oat biscuits’. The company subsequently faced a furious backlash from customers.

Customers claimed online that the supermarket giant had dropped the traditional name because some shoppers found it offensive.

However, Woolworths said the name change was at the request of the Department of Veterans Affairs and had nothing to do with “cancel culture”.

“We did not have the required approvals to use the term for this particular recipe in the catalogue and wanted to ensure we complied with regulations,” Woolworths said.

Anzac biscuits have become synonymous with honouring Australia’s war heritage

‘But we are proud to stock the RSL Anzac biscuits, which we use to raise money for veterans and their families, and we have gone through the required approval process.’

In the case of Woolworths’ ‘golden oats biscuits’, the recipe deviated so much from the traditional version that the company was refused permission to use the name on that product.

Anzac biscuits have become synonymous with honouring Australia’s wartime history, as they were often included in food parcels for Australian troops fighting at Gallipoli and France during World War I.

These parcels supplemented the soldiers’ simple diet of tinned beef and rusk, known as the ‘Anzac waffle’ or ‘Anzac tile’.

Anzac biscuits, made from oatmeal, treacle and flour, had a high nutritional value and kept well during overseas transport.