An Australian couple who fed their baby daughter a strict vegan diet that left her severely malnourished have avoided jail. The parents, both in their 30s, were sentenced to an 18-month jail term but will serve it as a community order.
The girl, now three, was so malnourished at 19 months that she resembled a three-month-old. She had no teeth, could not sit up or speak, and was fed only oats, potatoes, toast and rice. She was taken into care in March 2018 after suffering a seizure.
Judge Sarah Huggett of Sydney's Downing Centre Court criticised the parents for providing a 'completely inadequate' diet. She noted the mother suffered from depression and had become 'increasingly fixated' on the vegan regime, while the father did nothing to address the child's condition.
The child's foster carer said the baby was behind others, unable to sit up, speak, feed herself or play with toys. The parents pleaded guilty to failing to provide for a child and causing serious injury. Each received 300 hours of community service and an intensive corrections order.
