Should Australia ban energy drinks for under-16s? Paediatric nutritionist Mandy Sacher says yes

CLIENT: Mandy Sacher

OUTLET: The Today Show

Renewed calls to ban energy drink sales to children under 16 in Australia are growing louder, following the UK government's landmark decision to make such a ban law across England from April 2027.

Paediatric nutritionist Mandy Sacher appeared on The Today Show and Nine News to share her concerns, arguing that Australia's current protections do not go far enough and that the risks of energy drinks to young people extend well beyond their caffeine content.

Sacher told Nine News that the newly launched range of McDonald’s Red Bull energy drink formulations are ultra-processed sweetened beverages loaded with artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners, with some products containing up to 12.5 teaspoons of sugar. She warned that consumption artificially stimulates young nervous systems, exacerbating already rising rates of anxiety, ADHD-like symptoms and depression among Australian teenagers, and called on parents to return to the basics, prioritising hydration, whole foods and sleep over quick-fix stimulants.

Berries, bugs and our kids: paediatric nutritionist Mandy Sacher sounds the alarm on Australia's insecticide proposal

CLIENT: Mandy Sacher

OUTLET: The Today Show

Health experts are raising serious concerns after Australian food regulators received a proposal to increase the maximum residue limits of a new insecticide called isocycloseram on locally grown berries. The proposal has drawn criticism from parents and nutrition advocates alike, with questions mounting over the long-term safety of increasing chemical exposure in foods that children consume in large quantities relative to their body weight.

Paediatric nutritionist Mandy Sacher appeared on The Today Show to address the issue head-on, urging regulators and consumers to shift the conversation from acceptable limits to active reduction of chemical load. Sacher provided practical guidance for families, including washing berries for 30 to 60 seconds, soaking them in bicarb or apple cider vinegar, rotating fruit varieties and considering frozen organic options as a more affordable alternative. She emphasised that berries remain a healthy and important part of children's diets, while calling for greater scrutiny of cumulative pesticide exposure across the food supply.

From Dubbo tradies to Times Square: How Frase Skin cracked the global skincare market

CLIENT: Frase Skin

OUTLET: Syndication Across Newscorp Mastheads

Two brothers from Dubbo with backgrounds in carpentry and plumbing have taken their self-funded skincare brand to one of the world's most iconic stages, a Times Square billboard in New York City, after identifying a gap in the market the major beauty brands had long overlooked. Beau London, 26, and Zac London, 31, launched Frase Skin in May 2023 after finding there were no skincare products designed to speak to tradies and outdoor workers. The brand has since grown from $48,000 in revenue in FY23 to $3.5 million in FY26, with total sales now exceeding $5.5 million.

The story was covered by Savannah Pocock and syndicated across the News Corp Australia network, including the Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Courier-Mail, Adelaide Advertiser and beyond. With Frase Skin now live on Amazon Prime in the United States and a crowdfunding campaign on OnMarket having raised more than $851,000 from 301 investors in under a week, the momentum behind the brand is undeniable. DL Comms is proud to have helped bring this story to media.

'Men in boots, not suits': Dubbo brothers take Frasé Skin national with Today Show debut

CLIENT: Frase Skin

OUTLET: The Today Show, 10 News Plus, News.com.au, & more

Two Dubbo brothers are on a mission to make skincare simple, stigma-free and built for the blokes who actually work in the elements. Frasé Skin, the no-nonsense Australian grooming brand founded by Zac and Beau London, made a splash in its first week of capital raising with a national media debut across the Today Show, 10 News Plus and News.com.au, putting the brand firmly in front of a mainstream Australian audience.

Co-founder Zac London told Today Show hosts that the brand exists to serve a market that has long been overlooked by the grooming industry. "They make skincare for men in suits; we make skincare for men in boots," London said, summing up the Frasé Skin philosophy in a single line. The coverage marks a significant early milestone for the brand as it looks to scale, with the London brothers drawing attention not just to their products but to a broader conversation about breaking the stigma around male grooming for tradespeople and outdoor workers.

Girl power: how Endeavour Energy is rewriting the rules of the trades

CLIENT: Endeavour Energy

OUTLET: 9News Sydney

For five consecutive years, women have made up half of all new apprentice recruits at Endeavour Energy, one of NSW's largest electricity network operators, responsible for delivering power to more than 2.8 million people across Greater Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Illawarra, South Coast and Central West NSW. Nine News reporter Alison Piotrowski spotlighted this milestone in a segment titled "Girl Power", speaking with apprentices who are already doing hands-on work on some of the state's most significant infrastructure projects, including the Badgerys Creek substation that will power the new Western Sydney Airport and the emerging Bradfield City development.

With 30 apprentice positions available for the 2027 intake, Endeavour Energy is not just talking about inclusion, it is embedding it into the everyday fabric of its workforce. Apprentice Zali Moore, whose father has spent nearly 30 years in the energy sector, summed it up simply: "It's not a man's job or a woman's job, but it's everybody's job and it's an opportunity for everybody to make an impact." DL Comms is proud to have played a role in bringing this story to a national television audience.

From administration to best gin in the world - Old Young's wins big.

CLIENT: Old Young’s

OUTLET: The Today Show, 10 News+, The West Australian, Yahoo Lifestyle, News Corp’s mastheads, and Business News WA.

What a week for DL Comms client James Young from Old Young's Distillery.

In one of Australia's great small business comeback stories, the Swan Valley distillery has gone from voluntary administration less than 12 months ago to producing the World's Best Gin. The story resonated strongly with media around the country, securing coverage across The Today Show, 10 News+, The West Australian, Yahoo Lifestyle, a massive syndication to all of News Corp’s mastheads, and Business News WA.

Founder James Young shared the emotional journey behind the revival, after spending months wondering whether he would lose both the business and his family home before rebuilding the company around a simple goal: making world-class spirits.

That determination paid off this week, with Old Young's taking out Best Gin in the World and Best Gin & Tonic in the World at the 2026 ADI International Spirits Awards in California.

Plastic Found In Every Single Person: Cutting Microplastics From Your Diet

CLIENT: Mandy Sacher

OUTLET: The Today Show

From hidden sugars in children’s snacks to the growing concern around microplastics in our food system, DL Comms client Mandy Sacher continues to lead important national conversations around Australia’s long-term population health.

Appearing on The Today Show this week, the leading paediatric nutritionist discussed the rising presence of microplastics in everyday foods and why greater awareness is urgently needed as researchers continue examining the long-term health impacts.

Mandy has become one of Australia’s strongest advocates for practical, preventative health education - helping families better understand the risks hidden within modern diets and food systems.

Australia’s Online Returns Problem Prompts Doorstep Pick-up Solution

CLIENT: ReSmart

OUTLET: The Today Show

“We all know that annoying feeling when you order something online that doesn't quite fit, but returning it can sometimes feel like a bit of a hassle. 

ReSmart is aiming to change the game, creating a service that picks up online returns from your doorstep.” 

The Today Show’s co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo spoke to ReSmart’s Eugenie Alonso, discussing how the doorstep pick-up service aims to reduce strain on $4.3 billion worth of unwanted and unreturned goods in Australian households.

'Wake-up call': How global crisis could be catalyst for reshaping our food supply

CLIENT: Grounded 2026

OUTLET: 9 News Online

Australia’s food system is under growing strain, as global tensions disrupt key supply chains and force farmers to rethink what - and whether - they plant.

With fertiliser and diesel costs rising and supply becoming increasingly uncertain, growers are already cutting back, raising concerns about higher supermarket prices in the months ahead.

DL Comms client Grounded was featured in 9News.com.au, with chef, farmer and author Matthew Evans speaking to the impact of global instability on Australian agriculture - and why this moment could be a turning point for how the nation produces its food.

Legal sector disruptors cash in on spiralling costs of dying

CLIENT: JustFund

OUTLET: Australian Financial Review

Australia’s traditionally slow-moving wills and estates sector is facing major disruption, as law tech start-ups and litigation funders move to capitalise on a looming $5.4 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer.

With executors often spending up to a year managing estates - and fronting tens of thousands of dollars in upfront costs - new players are stepping in to modernise and financially support the process.

DL Comms client JustFund was featured in the Australian Financial Review, with COO Leigh McBean outlining how the business has expanded into estate law - offering loans to help executors cover costs and beneficiaries access funds sooner.