A UK pet food company is looking for a willing taste tester for its new dog food, and is willing to pay them handsomely.
If you've ever wondered what your dog's food tastes like, this is likely to be well up your street.
£5,000 is certainly enough to sway me. They say that curiosity killed the cat, after all, but everyone forgets the other half of the saying - that satisfaction brought it back.
Oh, and the dog food is all vegan, so you're not going to find any cheap and nasty animal by-products in there.
To get that £5,000, the successful dog food taster will be required to eat an all-vegan dog food diet for five days, reports The Manc.
They'll also be expected to keep a daily record of their experience, reporting back - not just on the food's taste, but also on their mood, energy levels, and bowel movements.
The dog food, created by company OMNI, is entirely plant-based and made up of a mix of sweet potatoes, lentils, brown rice, pumpkin, blueberries, peas and cranberries. It actually sounds pretty tasty.
The founders have eaten it themselves, and they're super proud of using human-grade ingredients that are not just 'good enough' but actually desirable.
Shiv Sivakumar, co-founder of OMNI, said: "OMNI is a clean label, meaning that it doesn’t have any mysterious ingredients.
"While all dog food has to use human grade ingredients by law, many brands use cheap animal by-products and unwanted leftovers that humans would definitely not want to eat themselves given the choice.
"We firmly believe that OMNI is good enough for even humans to eat, and more importantly enjoy, that we’re going to put our money where our mouth is.
Image: Omni Pet Food
"We decided to recruit a human taste tester to prove just how tasty and healthy plant-based dog food can be.
"Me and the other founder of OMNI would even eat our products - and we're sure many other dog food brand producers wouldn't.
"So, if you are looking to try out a new diet change and earn a little extra on the side, please sign up!"
The successful taste tester will have access to a registered dietician and will be sent a number of recipes over the week. Expenses will be covered on the food, and once the five days of testing is complete the £5,000 payment will be made.
If you'd like to apply, you can do so here before 31 May. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and live in the UK.
In case you missed the landmark announcement yesterday, it has been confirmed that social media is to be banned for under-16s in the UK.
That’s right – in what is said to be a bid to ‘give kids their childhood back’ and set ‘a new normal’ for future generations by kickstarting a cultural shift, the Government has announced that social media platforms will be banned from offering their services to under-16s – meaning less time for scrolling and more time for play.
The Government says it plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia, which was introduced back in 2024.
But what exactly does that mean? And what social media platforms are set to be included within the upcoming ban and which ones aren’t?
Well, according to the Government and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, the UK’s ban would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction, allow users to post their own material, alongside algorithms.
The Government has announced a social media ban for under 16s / Credit: Julian Christ (via Unsplash)
The ban will, therefore, include popular social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
But crucially, at this time, it is not intended for messaging services like WhatsApp to be included.
The Government says it is also planning to go even further than any other country, as on top of a blanket ban on social media, world-leading blocks on harmful functions – such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children – will also be blocked for under-16s, and will apply to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites.
Restrictions on these functionalities will also be on by default for 16- and 17-year-olds to prevent what ministers are calling a ‘cliff-edge’ at 16.
And to go even further, the Government says it will be ‘looking in more detail’ at the potential to introduce overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for those under 18 – with more information to be provided on this next month.
“This is a decisive first step which marks a clear choice to put children’s wellbeing first and give them a healthy life online,” the Government said in a statement. “We stand ready to take further measures in the future.”
Speaking on the upcoming ban and further restrictions, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever.
“I’ve heard first hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them.
“That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back.
“This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.”
Pioneering Bradford artist David Hockney has passed away aged 88
Clementine Hall
David Hockney, one of Britain's most influential and recognisable artists, has sadly died.
Born in Bradford in 1937, David Hockney built a career spanning more than six decades and became one of the most influential figures in contemporary art.
He was best known for his vibrant paintings, from the iconic swimming pools of Los Angeles to the sweeping landscapes of Yorkshire and Normandy.
And of course you can't forget the adorable paintings of his sausage dogs Stanley and Boodgie.
This morning on Friday 12 June, it was sadly announced that David Hockney had passed away - just one month prior of his 89th birthday.
Admired by critics and the public alike, Hockney's work was exhibited around the world and attracted record-breaking prices, cementing his place as one of the defining artists of the modern era.
Most recently, his incredibly immersive exhibition 'Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)' was a hit across the country, proving his work still resonated with the people of today.
His work at Salts Mill has remained in exhibit for years, including his special digital drawings that he did on his iPad.
His death marks the end of a truly extraordinary career, but his influence on British culture and contemporary art will endure for years to come.
A true West Yorkshire icon that will be missed by many from across the globe. RIP David.
Georgina Pellant -
20th May 2022 
