News
The number of news found: 38.
03/31/2017 SCIENTISTS GROW BEATING HEART TISSUE ON SPINACH
A new paper compiled by a cohort of scientists that will be published in the May 2017 issue of scientific journal Biomaterials outlines the successful process of growing human heart tissue on spinach leaves. According to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) graduate student and the paper's lead author Joshua Gershlak, the team grew cardiac muscle on the spinach leaves, then was able to circulate blood through the plant's vascular system to keep the tissue alive before sewing it into native human arteries—creating a viable replacement to damaged tissues within the heart. The implication of these findings is vast for patients suffering from heart disease or cardiac arrest wherein heart tissue is heavily damaged. Gershlak and his team are exploring the abilities of various other plants—including using wood for bone regeneration—in biomedical applications. This medical advancement serves to show that animal-based research methods are not necessary, a notion that is increasingly being adopted by medical schools across the country that are instead shifting to less cruel, more human-relevant methods of scientific advancement. (vegnews.com)
03/31/2017 BRITISH SUPERMARKET ADOPTS OFFICIAL VEGAN LABEL
UK-based supermarket chain ASDA recently added vegan labels to 16 of its products storewide. Items previously stocked at the market—including peanut butter, curry sauce, plant-based meat products, soup, and its own private-labeled vodka—now bear a label approved by vegan organization The Vegan Society. "Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we know that they have different needs and demands from our products," ASDA Own brand's vice president Lizzy Massey said. "That is why we have listened to feedback from our customers and are proud to put vegan labeling on our own brand products." The Vegan Society conducted a study last year that revealed a 360 percent increase in the number of vegans living in the UK in the last decade. (vegnews.com)
03/30/2017 CHINA'S BIGGEST DAIRY COMPANY IN DEEP TROUBLE
The value of stocks in Huishan Dairy Holdings—China's largest dairy company—fell by 85 percent at the close of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday. Stocks plummeted after a story surfaced that the dairy company's largest shareholder illegally used 3 billion yuan (more than $400 million) to invest in real estate. The company is now valued at $4 billion less than it was last week, which may force it to cease operations at its 82 dairy farms. Various forms of corruption within the animal products industry have been recently brought to light including this month's scandal in Brazil where JBF—the world's largest beef producer—was implicated in bribing health officials to deem rotten meat adulterated with acid as safe for consumption. (vegnews.com)
03/30/2017 NEW VEGAN CRUISE SETS SAIL IN SEPTEMBER
Social networking platform Vegan Travel collaborated with cruise company Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) to launch a new 7-night vegan cruise to Norway's Fjordland this fall. Guests will be treated to a 100-percent vegan menu on-board, as well as daily activities including classes about making vegan toothpaste and cheese. Vegan wellness expert Michael Greger, MD and nutritionist Julianna Heaver, amongst others, will be on-board to speak about the benefits of plant-based living. The cruise departs from London on September 25, 2017 and will be aboard the Columbus—CMV's newest ship that will be launched in June. Several vegan cruises are currently operating around the world, including the 15-year-old Holistic Holiday at Sea. Last year, the first raw vegan cruise—hosted by Jesse Bogdanovich of blog The Whole Lifestyle—set sail on the Adriatic sea. (vegnews.com)
03/29/2017 AMERICANS ATE 20 PERCENT LESS MEAT IN LAST DECADE
A new report published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) revealed that Americans cut their diet-related carbon footprint by 10 percent between 2004 and 2015. NRDC attributed a large portion of this change—which avoided 271 million metric tons of climate-changing pollution—to a 19 percent drop in meat consumption, accounting for avoiding 185 million metric tons of pollution. NRDC revealed that producing one kilogram (approximately two pounds) of beef emits 26 kg (more than 57 pounds) of carbon dioxide, the highest footprint of the 197 foods the report examined and a contributor of 34 percent of the total diet-related per capita climate-warming pollution in 2014. (vegnews.com)
03/29/2017 CALIFIA FARMS EXPANDS PLANT-BASED MILK TO UK
California-based vegan company Califia Farms will expand its product line to UK markets this May. The brand will debut its products during the London Coffee Festival next month before launching eight products at 400 locations of grocery chain Sainsburyi's (with other markets to follow). Currently, Alpro is the top plant-based milk brand in the UK and reported a 19.2 percent increase in sales this year. According to Califia Farms CEO Greg Steltenpohl, sales of Califia products grew by 77 percent in US markets last year. The plant-based milk industry is experiencing a boom in the UK, as evidenced by almond milk’s inclusion for the first time in history in this year’s British "shopping basket"—an annual report that identifies the most popular consumer shopping trends. (vegnews.com)
03/28/2017 AMERICANS FIND PLANTS AS MEATY AS ANIMALS
A new survey conducted by research firm ORC International—on behalf of meat alternatives company Lightlife—uncovered poignant statistics about consumer attitudes toward plant-based protein. The study consisted of 1,047 participants over the age of 18 that filled out a quantitative survey in December 2016. A majority of respondents (65 percent) believed plant-based foods were just as "hearty and satisfying" as animal products. Furthermore, 72 percent of participants agreed that plants are a source of complete protein, 87 percent admitted to eating plant protein regularly, and 40 percent expressed that they wanted to see more plant-based protein innovation in the snack category. The survey found that millennials are more likely than Generation X participants to reduce animal protein consumption in the future, with 26 percent committing to actively reducing animal consumption in 2017.
03/28/2017 VEGAN SHRIMP TO HIT SHELVES NEXT MONTH
Vegan company New Wave Foods will launch its plant-based shrimp products in April. Founders Dominique Barnes and Michelle Wolf said the launch comes "much earlier than we'd initially expected," due to overwhelming market interest. The duo joined IndieBio—a Silicon Valley-based technology accelerator program—in 2015 with the goal of disrupting the seafood industry, and not the ocean. Wolf and Barnes developed their prototypes—a popcorn shrimp (PopShrimp) and an unbreaded, cooked shrimp made with soy protein and red algae —in an effort to create truly sustainable seafood. New Wave's initial shrimp product found early support in 2016 when Google began serving the vegan product in lieu of animals at its headquarters in Mountain View, CA.
03/27/2017 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VOTES IN FAVOR OF EU BAN ON RABBIT BATTERY CAGES
The European Parliament overwhelmingly voted on March 15 in favor of improving farmed rabbit welfare. By a vote of 410 to 205, drafting is now set to begin on history-making legislation that will enact a widespread EU ban of the use of battery cages. The significant ruling will dramatically help the more than 340 million rabbits who currently experience extreme suffering each year while being inhumanely housed in small wire pens where animals are crammed in; on the average allowing each one only 67 square inches of space. Animal Equality, an international farmed animal advocacy organization, and its supporters had been lobbying members of the parliament across Europe, sending more than 120,000 emails urging them to support this plan to protect farmed rabbits.
03/27/2017 SAUSAGE EXECUTIVE SAYS FUTURE IS PLANT-BASED
Senior director of mission at meat company Applegate Nina Asoudegan recently spoke with food media outlet Foodnavigator about the changes in consumer perception toward meat. Asoudegan spoke about the growing consumer demand for transparency within the meat industry. "People turned a blind eye for many years, but when they started to see how animals were produced and put into gestation crates, and they started to ask more and more questions," Asoudegan said, "it really pulled the curtain back on the industry." She predicted that the amount of meat people consume will decline in coming years and looked to plant-based protein as a source of potential revenue for Applegate. "I think Applegate might be looking at itself not only as a meat company like we have been for years, but as a food company. Maybe a company that seeks protein... not just from animals, obviously. Look at what we see with the rise in all the plant protein and the companies like Beyond Meat. I mean, I think this is really indicative of the future."
03/24/2017 BRAZILIAN MEAT PRODUCERS CAUGHT IN GLOBAL SCANDAL
Last Friday, federal police in Brazil raided several meat production facilities, arrested more than 30 people, suspended more than 30 health inspectors, and placed 21 meat-packing plants under investigation. The raid came after the police conducted a two-year investigation across six Brazilian states and uncovered illegal practices—such as bribing health inspectors to certify rotten meat products as safe for consumption—within 30 meat companies, including the world's largest beef producer JBF. "They used acid and other chemicals to mask the [rotten] aspect of the product," the police said in a statement. "In some cases, the products used were carcinogenic." This incident is an example of just one destructive practice of the global animal agriculture industry.
03/24/2017 STARBUCKS LAUNCHES ORGANIC VEGAN AVOCADO SPREAD
International coffeehouse Starbucks launched a new spring menu—which features a vegan avocado spread and sprouted bagel—this week at its 24,000 locations worldwide. The organic avocado spread (sold in packaged containers) is a guacamole-like condiment made with organic Hass avocados, onion, garlic, jalapeño, lime juice, and sea salt. The new vegan sprouted bagel (made with whole grains, brown and golden flax, sunflower seeds, and wheat) joins several existing vegan bagel options including blueberry, plain, and cinnamon raisin. Earlier this year, the company launched its first prepared vegan breakfast item—an assortment of grains soaked overnight in coconut milk—and continues to experiment with plant milk-based drink options after its initial introduction of almond milk last year.
03/23/2017 FIRST ALMOND MILK COMPANY TO OPEN IN JAMAICA
Local distribution and food production companies T. Geddes Grant Distributors and Seprod recently partnered with American brand Naturally Almond to set up the first almond milk manufacturing plant in Jamaica. According to T. Geddes Grant managing director Michael Subratie, almond milk is the fastest growing non-dairy beverage in Jamaica and its sales have increased by 15-percent annually on the island. The Naturally Almond brand milk will initially be available in four flavors—original, vanilla, original unsweetened, and vanilla unsweetened—with a chocolate flavor to be released later this year. The partnership plans to export Jamaican-produced almond milk to surrounding islands including Trinidad and Barbados in the future. Global sales of almond milk are predicted to boom within the plant-based milk market, which is expected to reach $35 billion by 2024.
03/23/2017 STELLA MCCARTNEY DEBUTS "SKIN-FREE SKIN" COLLECTION
Vegetarian fashion designer Stella McCartney debuted her 2017 fall collection during Paris Fashion Week earlier this month. The designer unveiled a new vegan leather material—called "skin-free skin"—that she used throughout the collection of faux leather pants, coats, shirts, and suede handbags. "Until recently, I avoided using fake [leather] because it never looked luxurious enough," McCartney said. "I am so excited that we have finally developed fabrics that look just as good as the real thing, and therefore genuinely pose a question to the industry about why anyone needs to use leather any more." While McCartney's lines are not always vegan—as the designer still uses wool and silk—she has been an outspoken advocate against fur and leather, and regularly partners with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to fight against animal cruelty in the fashion industry.
03/22/2017 STOP THE WORLD'S BIGGEST WHALE SLAUGHTER
In just a few days, Norway will start up a horrific annual tradition — the ruthless slaughter of hundreds of whales. Whales are awe-inspiring, beautiful beings. They communicate with each other in song, and experience human-like emotions. But in Norway, every year these amazing creatures are hunted down and killed, then hacked apart to become animal feed and ingredients in beauty products. Norway has managed to slip under the radar as the #1 whale slaughtering country. But with unprecedented global outrage, Europe clan close its ports to Norway's whalers. This is a call to action, please sign the petition. After Iceland, it is time to stop Norway too!
03/22/2017 PLANT-BASED WAS BIGGEST TREND AT MAJOR TRADE SHOW
Food industry media outlet Organic Authority recently recapped last weekend's major trade show Natural Foods Expo West. The event drew a record number of 80,000 attendees and 3,100 product exhibitors—500 of which were showing their products for the first time. "The biggest trend on the show floor was the explosion of plant-based foods and their link to reduced impact on the climate, improved human health, and animal welfare," Organic Authority writer Jill Ettinger said. Large crowds gathered to sample products from Beyond Meat, Tofurky, Miyoko's Kitchen, and Daiya Foods, amongst others. Ettinger pointed out that the presence of plant-based milk companies indicated strong growth in the category.
03/21/2017 VEGAN TRAIN RIDE TAKES OFF ON EARTH DAY
Pennsylvania-based Firefly Café partnered with Boyertown train operator Colebrookdale Railroad to offer an all vegan train excursion. The trip will take passengers from Boyertown to Pottstown and serve gluten-free vegan dishes such as quinoa salad, a roasted chickpea bake with pesto, and raw key lime cheesecake. Colebrookdale Railroad assistant director Doug Horvat first worked with Firefly Café's co-owner Loriann Wade for an excursion last summer that quickly sold out, indicating the demand for a vegan train trip. The Firefly Café opened last year with a mostly vegan menu and Wade removed all animal products several months ago. The vegan train takes off on April 22, with two more excursions scheduled for this summer and fall. (vegnews.com)
03/20/2017 VEGAN MILK IS TOP CONSUMER TREND IN UK
The contents of this year's UK "shopping basket"—an annual analysis of consumer shopping trends—have recently been revealed. In addition to gin and bicycling helmets, for the first time ever, the symbolic basket contains non-dairy milk. British analysts compile the basket's contents based on four indices that reveal financial statistics about price inflation and consumer spending patterns drawn from 700 representative goods and services across 140 areas in the UK. Analysts added plant-based milk to represent what they say is "a distinct and growing market." Conversely, milk, cheese, and eggs were removed from the 2015 basket due to falling sales. In addition to the growth veganism in the UK—up by 360 percent in the last decade—recent reports have predicted that the plant-based milk industry will continue to grow to $35 billion by 2024.
03/17/2017 BRITISH MEN GO VEGAN TO IMPRESS DATES
A new survey conducted by dating platform EliteSingles revealed the top 40 behavioral changes British men undertake to impress potential mates. Researchers asked 1,323 UK-based men about how they change their preferences in order to impress a new partner and compiled a list of the most common responses. In addition to admitting that they will refrain from smoking, pretend to like Bridget Jones movies, and buy more expensive shower gels, the men revealed they would embark on a vegan diet—the 35th most popular response. Choosing a vegetarian diet made the list as well, ranking at number 31. Nearly one-fifth of the men surveyed said they maintained the behavioral change throughout the relationship. An experiment conducted earlier this year in Australia revealed that men with vegan Tinder profiles fared far better than those touting bacon.
03/16/2017 MEATOUT PIZZA EVENTS IN CROATIA
In cooperation with ten pizzerias in Croatia, Animal Friends is celebrating this year's Meatout! For this occasion, celebrated all over the world on March 20, Animal Friends encourages pizzerias to introduce a vegan pizza on their menu—a pizza without ingredients of animal origin. On March 20, 2017, you can try vegan pizzas during this special event in the pizzerias in Zagreb, Osijek and Split. In addition, big tasting of over 25 pizzas will take place on Zagreb central square on March 20 at 11 a.m.
03/15/2017 PORTUGUESE CAFETERIAS MUST NOW OFFER VEGAN OPTION
On March 3, 2017, the Portuguese parliament signed a bill into law that requires all public "cantinas"—or cafeterias in schools, universities, hospitals, and prisons—serve at least one "strictly vegetarian" (vegan) option. Portugal's vegetarian organization Associação Vegetariana Portuguesa (AVP) launched a petition in 2015 to bring the issue in front of parliament. After gaining more than 15,000 signatures on its petition, AVP's proposal was approved by political parties Left Bloc (BE), the Green Ecologist Party (ENP), and People-Animals-Nature (PAN), which collectively cited the "freedom of choice in food" as the motivation behind enacting the bill. Public cantinas in Portugal are required to implement the mandate within six months.
03/15/2017 MAJOR PIZZA CHAIN ADDS VEGAN CHEES TO MENU
Chain restaurant Pizza Pizza recently added Violife vegan cheese to the menu at 419 locations across Canada. "We're on a mission to provide quality options that meet the different flavor and dietary preferences of our customers," Pizza Pizza CEO Pat Finelli said. "This new dairy-free vegan cheese is just one more way customers can make our pizza their own." Former basketball star and vegan activist John Salley first approached Finelli last year to suggest he add non-dairy cheese to Pizza Pizza's menu, and has worked with the company to implement the change. Stateside, plant-based options are also becoming increasingly more available on restaurant menus—including the vegan Impossible Burger, which fast-casual chain Bareburger added to its menu at 43 locations last week.
03/14/2017 TOM BRADY PARTNERS WITH VEGAN COMPANY
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has partnered with vegan company Purple Carrot to create his own plant-based meal kit. The TB12 Performance meal kit—priced at $78—is comprised of gluten-free, high-protein, and low refined sugar foods and recipes to prepare a week's worth of meals. "The TB12 Performance Meals are designed for anyone who's looking to achieve or sustain their own peak performance," Brady told CNBC. "We want to inspire everyone—not just athletes—to be their best, and I think these meals will be a big step in that direction." Purple Carrot CEO Andy Levitt says his partnership with the Super Bowl MVP will inspire even more people to choose a plant-based diet. Purple Carrot secured a $5 million investment shortly after its nationwide expansion in 2016 and has since partnered with prominent vegan chefs to create meal plans that promote a plant-based diet to a wide audience.
03/13/2017 VEGAN-OWNED FROZEN PIZZA BRAND DEBUTS IN UK
Norwich-based One Planet Pizza has exceeded its crowdfunding goal of £20,000 ($24,400 USD) by more than £6,000 ($7000 USD), becoming the UK's first crowdfunded all-vegan company. The brand's success stems from incorporating consumer engagement into its business model. Funding from initial investors—ranging from £16 (about $19 USD) to £2,000 ($2440 USD)—makes up 20 percent of the company's equity. These shareholders gain insider access to the development of the brand and a say in deciding which vegan organizations will receive 10 percent of yearly profits via the company's charity branch, One Planet Pizza Fund. Vegan blogger Hench Herbivore is working with the company to create protein-loaded pizzas and will serve as a social media marketing advocate, alongside Damien Clarkson of ethical creative studio The Growing Box and YouTuber Bastian Altrock.
03/13/2017 PEA PROTEIN MARKET TO REACH $104 MILLION BY 2026
Analysts at research firm Future Market Insights (FMI) predict that revenues from the pea protein market will surpass $104 million by 2026, with a compounded annual growth rate of 12 percent. One reason for this growth is the demand for replacing allergens and animal products in baking. While North America currently has the highest global demand for pea protein, FMI predicts that manufacturers will be targeting developing economies in the future. Late last year, French company Roquette announced plans to build the world's largest pea protein plant—a $400 million construction project—in Manitoba, Canada. The development of vegan products is largely responsible for the growth of the pea protein market as it is the key ingredient in many plant-based food items.
03/10/2017 GUATEMALA PASSES GROUNDBREAKING ANTI-CRUELTY LAWS
The Congress of Guatemala approved an omnibus anti-animal cruelty bill last week. The new set of laws—drafted and submitted by The Humane Society International (HSI)—provide protections to animals in laboratories, circuses, homes, and in the wild. In addition to completely banning cosmetic animal testing and dogfighting in the country, the laws will promote spaying and neutering companion animals to alleviate the stray dog population in Guatemala. Culling wild animals and abandoning animals is now illegal and penalties have been put in place for violators of these new laws—including punishment for spectators of cruel acts. HSI will help the Guatemalan government to implement the comprehensive new laws and is working with officials in other countries to pass similar legislation. Recently, HSI helped the Indian government ban the import of exotic furs and animal skins, and prompted the government of Pará—the second largest state in Brazil—to pass a ban on animal testing.
03/10/2017 FRENCH COMPANY OPENS PLANT-BASED MEAT FACILITY
French company Tereos opened its first plant-based meat-making facility in Alsace, France last week. The facility will produce plant-based protein under the name Le Sauté Végétal, which will be made from wheat proteins and chickpea flour that will be sold in shredded form. "The inauguration of this industrial pilot unit is an important step in the work Tereos has been conducting around plant proteins for many years," Tereos CEO Alexis Duval said. "It demonstrates the Group's great capacity to innovate and develop new products that cater to the world's evolving food needs." The company is a founding member of European innovation coalition "Improve" that aims to shift protein production away from animal agriculture.
03/09/2017 TYSON CEO SAYS THE FUTURE IS MEATLESS
CEO of meat company Tyson Foods, Tom Hayes, recently spoke with media outlet Fox Business about the changes he plans to implement in the company. "The meat industry has gone through an evolution over time," Hayes said. "We are trying to become less processed." Fox Business reporter Jade Scipioni asked Hayes about Tyson's recent investment into vegan company Beyond Meat and if he believes people will be eating more plant-based meats in the future. "I think they are," Hayes responded. "Plant-based protein is growing almost, at this point, a little faster than animal-based, so I think the migration may continue in that direction." Last year, Tyson launched $150 million venture capital fund Tyson New Ventures for the sole purpose of investing in meat alternatives.
03/08/2017 LIFE ON MARS WOULD BE VEGAN
Last month, NASA launched space research institute Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES) to explore the viability of human life on Mars. Biochemist Lance Seefeldt and botanist Bruce Bugbee—who will helm the $15 million project—say that life on the red planet would necessarily be vegan, as animals would be too expensive to produce. Bugbee explains that protein-production on Earth is not efficient, as world hunger is a looming problem. Other researchers in this field confirm Bugbee's notion of a vegan Martian life. Currently, Dutch ecologist Wieger Wamelink has successfully used simulated Martian soil (drawn from a Hawaiian volcano) to grow stinging nettle, tomato, chives, radish, leek, rye, quinoa, pea, rocket, garden cress, spinach, and a legume called lupine.
03/08/2017 MORE THAN HALF OF MAINE RESTAURANTS OFFER VEG OPTION
Maine Restaurant Week—an annual event running March 1 through March 12 that encourages people to explore the state's restaurant scene—has seen an increase in the diversity and sophistication of veg options offered at participating establishments over the years. The 2017 Maine Restaurant Week will feature 70 restaurants, 34 of which will be offering vegan meals and 58 of which will be offering vegetarian ones, citing public demand for healthful and sustainable dining options. "We started Maine Restaurant Week nine years ago," event organizers tell VegNews," and being inclusive of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free customers has been important to us since year one." This increase in veg options falls in line with other food industry trends, as new plant-based products on the market increased by 32 percent in 2016.
03/07/2017 LAND ROVER DEBUTS ETHICAL INTERIOR OPTION
UK-based luxury car company Land Rover unveiled its new mid-size SUV model Range Rover Velar last week in London. The new model is the fourth Range Rover to be introduced to the line, and the "Velar" name is a reference to a prototype of the company's first model built in 1969. Velar will be available with several interior options, including "ethical" non-leather material Suedecloth. "Some people don't want leather because it involves killing animals," Land Rover's design director Gerry McGovern said, "so we have taken that on board." Suedecloth is made with recycled plastic bottles that are manipulated into a soft, micro-fiber non-woven material. Several car-makers—including Tesla and Ferrari—have developed synthetic materials for their newest models due to rising customer demand for cruelty-free interior options.
03/07/2017 MASTERCHEF JUNIOR CHALLENGES KIDS TO COOK VEGAN FOOD
Last week's episode of cooking competition show MasterChef Junior challenged young chefs to cook without animal products, a first for the popular show hosted by Gordon Ramsay. The show pits young chefs against each other in an elimination-style competition and challenges them to cook dishes according to different themes. Former child actress and vegan activist Mayim Bialik appeared on the episode as a guest judge, appropriately. Chef Adam presented his burger—a falafel patty with kale, tomatoes, and caramelized onion, with a potato rosti on the side. Both Bialik and permanent judge and world-renowned baker Christina Tosi tasted the dish and praised Adam on taste, seasoning, and heartiness. Ramsey is notoriously outspoken against vegan food. However, the production of this episode indicates that the popularity of veganism amongst the show's viewers outweighs Ramsey's negative attitude toward cruelty-free foods.
03/06/2017 BURGER KING'S IMPACT ON DEFORESTATION EXPOSED
A new report compiled by environmental group Mighty Earth (ME) found that multinational fast-food chain Burger King sources its animal feed from areas of the Amazon rainforest cleared for soy production. To bring transparency to Burger King's supply chain, ME interviewed local farmers, used satellite mapping technology, supply chain analysis tools, and visited 28 soy plantations across 3,000 km (1,864 miles) across Brazil and Bolivia. ME found that the fast-food chain's suppliers actively finance land-clearing operations in the Amazonian regions, a practice that contributes to the displacement of local populations, burning of native wetlands, and the destruction of approximately 200 million hectares (or 15 times the size of England) of natural forest and grasslands. Last year, a separate report compiled by The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) implicated Burger King—amongst 13 other major US brands including Hormel Foods, Wendy's, and Subway—in failing to uphold adequate protections against sourcing its meat from Amazonian lands cleared for animal agriculture.
03/06/2017 GO VEGGIE LAUNCHES VEGAN BACON CHEESE SNACKS
Food company GO VEGGIE launched two new vegan cheese snacks. Both flavors—White American and White Cheddar & Meatless Bacon—are a departure from the company's previous cheese snack bars (which contained casein) and are soy-free, non-GMO, and made with coconut oil. The snack bars are currently shipping to retailers and will be sold in 6-ounce bags that contain eight 0.75-ounce bars. While the company is not fully vegan, GO VEGGIE's marketing manager Allison Houle reveals the new products were developed to serve rising interest in plant-based foods. "With 55% of Americans planning to eat more plant-based foods this year," Houle says, "we're excited to offer a delicious, healthy snack option to support the rising consumer demand."
03/03/2017 GENERAL MILLS MAKES ANOTHER VEGAN INVESTMENT
The investment arm of food corporation General Mills, 301 Inc., partnered with private equity firm 2X Consumer Products Growth Partners to invest in vegan company, D's Naturals. In 2015, when he was just 18 years old, Daniel Katz launched D's Naturals—which produces No Cow protein bars and dessert-flavored Fluffbutter nut butters. "Most protein bars are basically candy bars filled with whey protein, so very high in sugar," 2X managing partner Whitman explained. "His product is very differentiated in that it's high protein, low sugar, which there's only a few of [them] out there, and is further differentiated because it's plant-based." Currently, General Mills plans to delve into the vegan industry by developing its own line of dairy-free products using ingredients such as fava beans, lentils, and adzuki beans.
03/02/2017 NEW PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS UP 32 PERCENT IN 2016
Research firm Innova Market Insights found that new product launches with a "plant-based" claim totaled 320 in 2016 in the United States. In 2015, that number was 220, which grew from only 196 such product launches in 2014. These findings are supported by market research firm Technavio, which predicted that new vegan product launches will grow by 11 percent annually from 2016 until 2020. Consulting company HealthFocus International (HFI) recently conducted an online survey and found that many respondents are eschewing animal products as a long-term solution toward better health, as well as concerns about animal welfare and the environment.
03/01/2017 CENTRAL PARK CARRIAGE HORSE COLLAPSES ON THE JOB
Disturbing images show a seemingly-exhausted carriage horse lying limp on its side after suddenly collapsing in Central Park — and now an animal rights group is demanding an investigation. Witnesses saw the horse breathing heavily before it collapsed on the ground near Tavern on the Green around 10 A.M. last Tuesday, said a rep for the anti-carriage group NYCLASS. The group released several photos taken by bystanders at the scene that show the horse both kneeling on the concrete and resting on its side. "Horses don't just collapse," a NYCLASS spokesperson said. "Something happened — and the city should get to the bottom of it and make sure it never happens again." Julien Martinez, a spokesperson for the Department of Health, said the NYPD informed them on Feb 21 that a horse had "tripped and fallen in Central Park." "The horse returned immediately to its stable and was examined by a private veterinarian who determined Max to be healthy," the statement read. (nypost.com)
03/01/2017 STARBUCKS LAUNCHES TWO DRINKS MADE WITH PLANT-BASED MILK
Multinational coffeehouse Starbucks launched two new drinks for the spring on Tuesday, both of which are made with plant-based milks. The Coconut Milk Mocha Macchiato (which contains a main ingredient, white chocolate mocha sauce, that is not dairy-free) and Iced Cinnamon Almondmilk Macchiato—made with espresso, almond milk, cinnamon dolce syrup, and finished with a caramel drizzle and cinnamon dolce sprinkles. While neither option is completely dairy-free, the latter can be veganized by requesting that your barista substitute a pump of caramel syrup in place of the dairy-based drizzle, and use cinnamon powder to top in lieu of cinnamon dolce sprinkles (which contain extractives of butter). Starbucks is promoting both as cold drinks but they can also be ordered hot.
The number of news found: 38.
