News
The number of news found: 53.
11/30/2016 CARBON MONOXIDE KEEPS MEAT RED
Inside Edition's chief investigative journalist Lisa Guerrero recently set out to discover the reason behind meat retaining its red color after prolonged periods of time. Guerrero found that meat-packers routinely use a combination of toxic chemicals carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen when packaging meat as a preservative. Inside Edition illustrated the difference between "gas-packed" and untreated meat by leaving two pieces of lamb out in room temperature for eight days. The treated meat retained its color while the un-gassed meat turned dark and began to rot. Gases used for packing do not need to appear on the label of meat sold to consumers, and this process is approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Last year, the World Health Organization reclassified processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen, placing it in the same category as tobacco, arsenic, and asbestos.
11/30/2016 COURT DROPS CHARGES AGAINST CECIL'S HUNTERS
This month, a Zimbabwe court dropped charges brought against professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst for his connection to the death of Cecil the Lion. Bronkhorst—who did not obtain proper hunting permits—accepted an alleged $50,000 to lead Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer to Cecil for the purpose of killing the beloved lion with a bow and arrow in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park last year. "There was no full trial, but the [High Court] judge has decided that the charges as they were brought at that time were not properly constituted," Bronkhorst's attorney Perpetua Dube said. The public outrage over Cecil's death has prompted several actions against trophy hunting, such as Delta Airline's refusal to ship the remains of a black rhino killed by a Texas hunter in June.
11/29/2016 VEGAN MODEL WALKS OUT ON FUR PHOTOSHOOT
Scotland-born vegan model Ruby Jean Wilson refused to promote fur as part of a recent photoshoot. Wilson—who went vegan one year ago—arrived at the shoot in Sydney, Australia for hair and makeup when she discovered the job would be for a "look book" full of clothing that donned fur. Despite initial hesitation to refuse completing her assignment, Wilson's ethical beliefs took over and she left the photoshoot to take a stance against fur. "I don't believe that being in the fashion industry means that you are at the whim of designers or whomever is paying you," Wilson wrote in a Facebook post. "We have to collaboratively decide what's not cool anymore." The 23-year-old is hoping her experience will prompt others to do the same.
11/29/2016 MORRISSEY URGES GM TO MAKE VEGAN CAR INTERIORS
Former Smiths' singer Morrissey wrote an open letter to General Motors Company (GM) CEO Mary Barra urging the car manufacturer to create vegan leather interior options for their Chevy Bolt and Volt models—cars that are marketed as eco-friendly. Morrissey was prompted to write the letter after animal-rights group PETA released an investigation wherein GM was named as one of the companies that sources leather from abused cows and calves on Brazilian ranches. "Animals are branded on the face, electro-shocked, and beaten before they're slaughtered and used to make leather interiors for car companies, including yours," Morrissey wrote—before urging Barra to offer vegan interiors, steering wheel covers, and gear shifts.
11/28/2016 TWO-THIRDS OF BRITISH CHICKEN CONTAINS E. COLI
A comprehensive study carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Public Health in England found that 78-percent of chicken sold at British markets was contaminated with an antibiotic resistant strain of E. Coli. The study analyzed samples from convenience stores, butchers, and major supermarkets. Outside of England, the study found that 53-percent of samples in Scotland and 41-percent of samples in Wales were also contaminated. The particular strain found does not cause immediate side-effects if consumed, but leads to antibiotic resistance in humans—meaning, many common illnesses may no longer be effectively treated with antibiotics. Dr. Mark Holmes of the University of Cambridge explains the dangers of human exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria, stating, "If they end up developing sepsis or a urinary tract infection, they may well find they have a bug that is resistant to the first-choice antibiotic." He continues, "By the time they get on to the right antibiotic, the bug could be out of control. It can even lead to death."
11/28/2016 DUTCH MINISTER VISITS CALIFORNIA TO TALK VEGANISM
Dutch Minister of Agriculture Martijn van Dam will visit California from November 27 to 30 to meet with key individuals in the agricultural sector, university officials, and plant-based Silicon Valley food startups—including Impossible Foods and Perfect Day. Both areas of the world have made substantial advancements in developing climate-friendly foods and policies. This year, the Dutch government placed an historic limit on meat consumption—recommending citizens limit their intake to no more than 17-ounces per week—as part of its dietary guidelines. In Silicon Valley, companies such as Impossible Foods—which debuted its Impossible Burger at several restaurants nationwide this year—have made progress in bringing meat alternatives to the public. This cross-global collaboration indicates that progress toward curbing climate change through innovation in food technology remains strong, despite the potential challenges set forth by the current United States political climate.
11/25/2016 VEGAN CELEBRITIES MAKE TURKEYS DINNER
Animal-rights organization Farm Sanctuary called on vegan celebrities Moby, Kat Von D, and Jamie Kilstein to create a video entitled, "The Right Way to Serve a Turkey Dinner." The video depicts the celebrities following "three easy steps" to prepare a turkey dinner—gather ingredients (cranberries and squash), invite turkeys, and enjoy! Turkeys Serena, Venus, Madeline, and Lurkey are seen enjoying their specially prepared meals. Moby asks, "Did you know that 46 million turkeys are killed every year for Thanksgiving here in the United States?" before Von D urges viewers to save a turkey through Farm Sanctuary's Adopt a Turkey Project. Vegan celebrities often lend their fame to promote compassionate projects such as these, an effort that may help offset celebrity endorsements for non-vegan companies and practices.
11/25/2016 VEGAN "PIECAKEN" IS A THING FOR THANKSGIVING
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals created praiseworthy "piecaken" to help celebrate Thanksgiving, sans animal products. The recipe utilizes three "accidentally vegan" pies easily found in supermarkets nationwide—Cherry Crunch Pie by Marie Callender's, and Lattice Apple Pie and Razzleberry Pie by Claim Jumper—which are baked according to box directions before being placed in three tins filled with cake batter (prepared from Duncan Hines cake mix with VeganEgg by Follow Your Heart, used in place of eggs). The "piecaken" is prepared by stacking the three baked cake layers, frosting them with one of three vegan Duncan Hines frostings—Cream Cheese, Classic Chocolate, or Classic Vanilla. This creation is proof that Thanksgiving indulgence can be completely cruelty-free.
11/24/2016 EMPLOYEES SPEAK OUT AGAINST TURKEY INDUSTRY
An exposé published this week in media outlet Slate revealed the injurious conditions turkey slaughterhouse workers are subjected to during the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Exposé writer Gabriel Thompson points out that slaughterhouse workers in the turkey industry experience more injuries due to the heavier weight of the birds and increased line speed—processing up to 1,410 birds per hour. Lisandro Vega—a former employee at the Huntsville, AR slaughterhouse of turkey producer Butterball—said that he worked as many as 50 days without a break, which resulted in permanent back injuries. Vilma Asencio worked at a turkey plant for meat company Cargill since 2001 and lost feeling in her hand—brought on by carpal tunnel syndrome—after performing repetitive motions on the slaughter line. According to Thompson, companies such as Butterball, Cargill, and Tyson do not report most injuries that occur within their facilities in order to maintain the image of a safe workplace. An Oxfam report released earlier this year outlined similar working conditions for factory farm employees year round, where many were forced to wear adult diapers because after being denied bathroom breaks.
11/23/2016 STRANGER THINGS STAR DISHES ABOUT VEGANISM
Star of hit Netflix Original show Stranger Things, Matthew Modine—who plays a villainous doctor—was featured on a recent video segment for People Magazine's recurring web series "Sexiest Men in the Kitchen." The actor and former professional chef has been vegan for 12 years, and revealed that some of his favorite dishes include zucchini pasta, mushroom-based meatless loaf, apple pie, and chocolate cake. "Chefs have gotten so good at making healthy, sinful food," Modine says. "I think some vegan pastries are better than those with butter and sugar!" Fellow actors, including Bones star Emily Deschanel, Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch, and Juno star Ellen Page, all publicly advocate their vegan lifestyles.
11/23/2016 DALLAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT GOES VEGAN
Dallas-based Mexican restaurant El Palote recently transitioned to a fully vegan menu. Owned by vegan couple Aurelio and Lily Arias, the restaurant previously offered several vegan options and a fully vegan menu on Thursdays. El Palote now serves traditional Mexican dishes as pastries—such as pan dulce—and uses soy and plant-based ingredients to replace animal products. Aurelio went vegan after he had a heart attack nine years ago and members of the Arias family adopted a plant-based diet to support him. The couple decided to remove animal products from their restaurant in an effort to educate their community about the health benefits of veganism. "We love you as clients, but we want to take care of you," Lily tells customers. "And... [non-vegan] food is not good for your health."
11/22/2016 "WORLD'S SADDEST POLAR BEAR" RELEASED FROM MALL CAGE
Authorities in China have allowed Pizza—dubbed "The World's Saddest Polar Bear"—to be released from a small enclosure at the Grandview Mall to Ocean Park, an animal amusement park in North China where Pizza was born and her parents still live. The action was prompted by video footage and photographs gathered by Humane Society International in September—where Pizza can be seen engaging in erratic mental behaviors in a small plastic cage with no ice or snow, and with only an air vent connecting the bear to the outdoors. Several animal-rights organizations collectively responded to urge Chinese officials to rehome the bear to a more suitable environment. Though the move is temporary and only being implemented while the enclosure is under renovation, Humane Society of the United States CEO Wayne Pacelle is pushing for a permanent solution. Animals such as arctic foxes, beluga whales, and walruses continue to be trapped in other displays at the Grandview Mall, which uses the animals to draw in customers as a strategy for competing with online-shopping.
11/22/2016 NEARLY ONE THIRD OF ARAMARK'S MENUS ARE VEG
United States-based food service company Aramark released a report detailing its progress toward the Healthy for Life initiative it launched in partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA). The goals of the initiative are for Aramark's menus to achieve a 20-percent reduction in calories, saturated fats, and sodium, as well as a 20-percent increase in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, with an impact of 10 billion meals served by the year 2020. Within the first year, Aramark—which provides food services to cafeterias in hospitals, universities, and offices nationwide—reports that more than 30-percent of its menus offer vegan and vegetarian main dishes.
11/22/2016 VEGAN EATERIES FLOURISHING IN LAS VEGAS VALLEY
The United States has long ranked among the top meat-eating countries in the world. But in recent years food trends have shifted toward more plant-based alternatives, and local entrepreneurs are noticing. In the Las Vegas Valley, there are approximately 10 vegan bakeries and restaurants — including Nevada's first all-vegan drive-thru. The United States has roughly 3.7 million vegan adults, which accounts for more than 1 percent of the nation's population, according to a 2016 national poll conducted by Harris Poll, commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group, a nonprofit education and advocacy group. But data show that herbivores and omnivores alike are also opting to use meat alternatives. A 2013 Mintel study found that while 7 percent of consumers identify as vegetarian, 36 percent indicated the use of meat alternatives.
11/21/2016 VEGAN PRODUCTS TO GROW BY 11 PERCENT ANNUALLY
A new market report by consumer goods research firm Technavio found that new vegan packaged goods will exhibit a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11-percent between 2016 and 2020. The report analyzed current market trends and revealed that the United Kingdom—which experienced a 360-percent growth of its vegan population in the past decade—is responsible for 20-percent of new vegan products launched in 2015 in Europe. Analysts identified three trends—the health benefits of veganism, the growing concern toward animal cruelty and welfare, and the increased focus on environmental protection—as factors contributing to the growing vegan packaged goods industry. "A new wave of consumers, especially millennials aged between 20 and 34 years, prefer vegan foods, owing to their concern toward animal welfare and environment-friendly food products," Technavio's lead analyst Manjunath Reddy said.
11/21/2016 TOO FACED ACQUIRED BY ESTÉE LAUDER FOR $1.45 BILLION
Vegan-friendly makeup brand Too Faced was acquired for $1.45 billion by beauty industry giant Estée Lauder—a company that openly engages in animal testing of its products. Too Faced adheres to a strict commitment of never testing on animals and uses only synthetic fibers in all of its makeup brushes. "I have built my life and my company with love, kindness, positivity and compassion for animals," Too Faced founder Jerrod Blandino posted to Instagram in response to the acquisition. "That will never change." Blandino further addressed concerns about international expansion into countries that require cosmetic animal testing, stating, "Rest assured we continue to have iron-clad rules in place that will ensure we will never test on animals and we will not sell in China." Estée Lauder CEO Fabrizio Freda explained that the company's interest in Too Faced stems from a desire to diversify its portfolio with brands that appeal to millennials. Vegan brands continue to thrive in a space where younger consumers are becoming more aware of the cruelty associated with the cosmetics industry.
11/19/2016 PLANT-BASED COMPANY BOOSTS UTAH ECONOMY
The Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) in Salt Lake City, UT approved the expansion of WhiteWave Foods—parent company to plant-based brands such as So Delicious, Silk, and Vega—into the state. GOED predicts that the company will create 105 high-paying jobs in the next six years and contribute over $5 million to the state economy in tax revenue. "Utah has a strong manufacturing community and is a prime distribution location," GOED's Executive Director Val Hale said. "We look forward to WhiteWave Foods' growth and contributions." A report released earlier this year found that plant-based companies contribute $13.7 billion annually to the United States economy and have created more than 60,000 high-paying jobs to date.
11/19/2016 HEART FAILURE HIGHER IN MEAT-EATING WOMEN OVER 50
New research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions conference last weekend revealed that postmenopausal women who consume a meat-centric diet exhibit a higher risk of heart failure. The study analyzed the diet of 103,878 women between the ages of 50 and 79 from 1993 to 1998 and found that 1,711 of them had developed heart failure. Women with a higher intake of dietary protein from meat had the highest rates of heart failure. While these findings are preliminary, lead author Mohamad Firas Barbour, MD says, "Higher calibrated total dietary protein intake appears to be associated with substantially increased heart failure risk, while vegetable protein intake appears to be protective." Barbour says the results indicate that heart failure, an ailment that is prevalent in postmenopausal women, can be moderated and prevented by modifying the diet.
11/18/2016 BIPARTISAN BILL LAUNCHED TO BAN WILD ANIMAL CIRCUSES
Congressmen Ryan Costello (R-PA-06) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA) bill two days ago. If enacted, TEAPSPA would effectively ban the use of wild animals in traveling shows across the United States. The congressmen announced the bill during a Washington DC screening of Lion's Ark—a documentary about the rescue of 25 lions from circuses in Bolivia conducted by animal-rights organization Animal Defenders International (ADI). "The captivity of exotic animals has proven over the years to be torturous to some of the most majestic creatures on Earth," Grijalva says. "It is imperative that we meet the call to end this practice once and for all." To date, a total of 34 nations around the world—including Mexico, The Netherlands, and Iran—have banned traveling wild animal circuses.
11/18/2016 TOFURKY TO LAUNCH SANDWICHES IN UK MARKETS
Plant-based meat company Tofurky will launch a sandwich line—in partnership with Greek vegan cheese brand Violife—in markets around the United Kingdom this year. The company introduced their prepared sandwiches at a UK Foodservice show last September after Tofurky founder Seth Tibbott identified an opportunity to penetrate the lucrative prepared sandwich industry with meatless options. Prior to launch, the company is conducting a customer survey to determine the most sought-after sandwiches customers desire—choices include Tempeh Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato; Buffalo Tofurky Chik'n Baguette; and Tofurky Ham, Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato. Tofurky is currently working with a British wholesaler and several new product development teams to bring its prepared sandwiches and salads to cold cases across the United Kingdom, in addition to actively exploring retail opportunities for Tofurky's sandwiches in the United States.
11/18/2016 ANOTHER CARDIOLOGY CHIEF GOES VEGAN
Dr. J. Chad Teeters became the latest heart doctor to give up meat, dairy and eggs. Teeters is Chief of Cardiology at Highland Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. He became inspired to switch to a plant-based diet in the spring of 2016 while attending a continuing medical education course called "A Plant-Based Diet: Eating for Happiness and Health." There, he watched a presentation given by famed physician, researcher and clinician Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn of the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. Esselstyn conducted a 20 year study that many feel proves a plant-based, oil-free diet can prevent heart disease, stop its progression and even reverse it completely. (care2.com)
11/17/2016 VEGAN MOVEMENT IS WINNING
A recent feature published in media outlet Quartz declared that veganism has broken through to the general public. Tracing the evolution of the vegan movement, the feature argues that at its inception, activists were loud but mostly ineffective in appealing to the public. Author Chase Purdy describes a clear split that occurred in 2001 between abolitionists (the "heart") and pragmatists (the "brain"), before highlighting the major changes of the vegan movement since then. Purdy focuses on eight individuals—Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) executives Miyun Park, Paul Shapiro, Josh Balk, and Matthew Prescott; Erica Meier of Compassion Over Killing (COK); Hampton Creek co-founder Josh Tetrick; Good Food Institute (GFI) founder Bruce Friedrich; and Farm Sanctuary outreach director Matt Ball—and how their concerted efforts made veganism into a powerful force through strategic advocacy on single issues.
11/17/2016 VEGAN FOOD PRODUCTS SPIKE BY 257-PERCENT
Market intelligence agency Mintel released the 2017 Global Food & Drink Trend report identifying key ingredients, products, and innovative companies driving next year's top trends. The report is compiled by 60 industry experts whose opinions are corroborated by Mintel's database of consumer research. The agency identified six top trends, one of which they call "Power to the Plants," or a significant trend toward plant-based products. "The preference for natural, simple and flexible diets will drive further expansion of vegetarian, vegan and other plant-focused formulations," the report states. Further, researchers reveal that products with "vegan" claims have increased by 257-percent since their 2010-2011 research period. Mintel identified this trend as "mainstreaming" in regions such as North America, Europe, Russia, and China. Separate reports have predicted the growth of various plant-based markets, making animal-free foods highly valuable investment opportunities in the coming years.
11/17/2016 USDA SHUTS DOWN SLAUGHTERHOUSE FOR CRUELTY
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) temporarily suspended operations at Oregon meat processor Bartels Packing on October 27 after discovering improper use of hand-held captive bolt guns—which are intended to drive a steel bullet through a cow's skull. During random inspections, the USDA found that employees shot cows several times with the bolt gun in places other than the skull, meaning the animals endured much suffering between shots. The Oregon slaughterhouse was also fined $13,000 in 2013 for polluting local waterways with untreated wastewater. The USDA normally shuts down slaughterhouses based on food safety concerns, but rarely suspends operations due to animal welfare issues.
11/16/2016 BLOOD FROM VEGANS IS EIGHT TIMES MORE PROTECTIVE AGAINST CANCER
Scientists have found that blood taken from vegans is 8 times more effective at killing cancer cells than blood taken from those following a Standard American Diet. In a series of experiments people were placed on different diets and their blood was then dripped on cancer cells in a petri dish to see which diet resulted in blood that was more effective at suppressing cancer growth. Even the blood of those on a Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) fights cancer, but the blood circulating within the bodies of vegans was shown to have nearly 8 times the stopping power when it comes to cancer cell growth. That was after maintaining a plant-based diet for a year. A plant-based diet and regular exercise can really help improve our long term quality of life. And having blood that's more inhospitable to cancer growth is just one major health advantage of the vegan diet. (sitsshow.blogspot.com)
11/16/2016 15K SAY NO TO NEW FACTORY FAM, 2 SAY YES
Plans for a factory farm that would raise 288,000 chickens on a four acre-plot were recently submitted to the City Council of York. In addition to 6,764 signatures on a petition against the construction of the farm, 7,732 letters of objection have been filed with the City of York Council. Residents cite a number of issues that substantiate their rejection—namely, serious concern for animal welfare; the impact of noise, smell, and light pollution on human health; and groundwater contamination, amongst others. Only two residents filed letters in support of the factory farm, stating it would create construction jobs. The City of York Council rejected the farm's plan for construction due to its proximity to the Rufforth Airfield and its potential for hindering visibility for airplanes flying in the area.
11/16/2016 VEGAN BIG MAC TRUCK A HUGE HIT
Canada-based vegan food truck McVegans launched last month to much clamor, selling more than 1,000 burgers in its first week of operation. Founder James McInnes' "Big MacInnes" was one of the most popular items sold at the 30th annual London Ribfest—a five-day festival that celebrates animal products—in London, ON in August. Through his food organization, Globally Local, McInnes partnered with Western University where he operates the truck two days per week and spends three days per week at local farmers' markets. In addition to the popular Big MacInnes, the menu includes a jackfruit-based Pulled Jack Sandwich and meat-free gyros. McDonald's recently reported that only one in five millennials have tried their iconic Big Mac, and McInnes believes the reason is because the tide is shifting amongst young people. "We believe that many millennials have awakened to the truth about fast-food and understand the massive impact that this industry has on our health, the animals and the environment." McInnes—whose family, including his 18-month old son, has been vegan for four years—plans to "McVeganize" more popular food items in an an effort to get more people to "just try it," and hopes to expand the McVegans truck to other cities in the future.
11/15/2016 VEGANS OPEN ANIMAL MUSEUM IN LOS ANGELES
Vegan animal-rights activists Carolyn Merino Mullin and Ellen Leventhal opened The Animal Museum in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles last month. The museum's first exhibit—entitled "Crazy Cat Ladies"—focuses on eschewing the stereotypes of the iconic "Caty Lady" with humorous undertones. Upcoming exhibits will explore other facets of human and animal relationships. On February 25, "The Sexual Politics of Meat" exhibit will display the art of 14 women, provoked by the titular topic and inspired by author Carol J. Adams' book of the same name. On view beginning February 27, the "Animal Protection: An American Movement" exhibit will highlight the progress of animal law over the last 150 years. "This is the first museum of its kind in the country, if not the world, to show the human-animal relationship," Levinthal says. "What we want is to empower people and encourage change."
11/15/2016 MEAT AND DAIRY MUST BE TAXED TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
In the first global comprehensive study of its kind, researchers at the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food found that a global average tax of 40-percent on meat and 20-percent on dairy is necessary to offset the heavy carbon footprint of the animal agriculture industry. On the heels of The Paris Agreement—where members of the United Nations committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to keep the planet from warming by two degrees celsius by 2020—various environmental groups have proposed that governments impose a tax on meat and dairy as a plan to achieve the goals set forth therein. "It is clear that if we don't do something about the emissions from our food system," the lead researcher of the study Marco Springmann said, "we have no chance of limiting climate change below 2C. But if you'd have to pay 40-percent more for your steak, you might choose to have it once a week instead of twice." Springmann suggests that food policies follow an optimum tax plan—where healthier foods such as fruit and vegetables would be subsidized to make them more affordable to populations priced-out of animal consumption by the proposed tax—which he determined would reduce emissions by 1 billion tons per year.
11/14/2016 VEGAN CHILI FEEDS THE HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Emergency food relief non-profit Chilis on Wheels will hold its second annual Thanksgiving Community Feast on November 24, 2016 in Manhattan's Tompkins Square Park. The vegan event is part of the organization's efforts to provide meals to populations that may not have access to food and family on Thanksgiving. Unlike other food donation drives, the Thanksgiving Community Feast encourages volunteers and event organizers to eat alongside those requesting a free meal. Vegan companies such as Tofurkey, Field Roast, Hampton Creek, Beanfields, Monk's Meats, VSpot, Erin McKenna's Bakery, and Terri have donated provisions to be served at the event, which Carrera anticipates will feed 1,000 New Yorkers.
11/14/2016 CARBON FOOTPRINT OF FOODS, RANKED
Research conducted by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology ranked the environmental impact—or "carbon footprint"—of foods consumed daily. The group analyzed the effects of raising and growing food for consumption, and compiled a systematic review of 369 published studies to create a comprehensive hierarchical pyramid of where all items fall. Researchers found that fruit, grains, and vegetables carried the smallest carbon footprints, while animal products such as lamb and beef were identified as the most environmentally problematic. This new research confirms that animal agriculture is an environmentally destructive practice—a topic that has been extensively explored ever since the United Nations published a report in 2009 stating that cows produce more methane gas than all transportation combined.
11/11/2016 ANIMAL RIGHTS WIN BY A LANDSLIDE IN THE ELECTION
Voters in Massachusetts and Oklahoma secured a win on two fronts for animals in the state legislature during this election cycle. Question 3 on the Massachusetts state ballot—which will phase out veal crates for calves, battery cages for hens, and gestation crates for pigs, and make sales of products obtained from these confinement methods illegal—passed by an overwhelming majority, with 71-percent of voters in favor of the measure. In Oklahoma, voters shot down Question 777 (with over 60-percent of residents voting no), or the "right to farm" proposal, which would have opened up a slew of issues including the allowance of factory farms to go unregulated, and other areas defined under "agriculture" (including puppy mills, cockfighting, and horse slaughter) to exist unrestricted. Despite the massive upset on election day, vegan democrat Jamie Raskin secured a seat in the House of Representatives.
11/11/2016 SCIENTISTS TO REPROGRAM COW GUTS TO CUT EMISSIONS
A recent feature on technology outlet Wired examined bioengineering solutions currently being developed to address the methane emission problem of the beef and dairy industries. Around the world, scientists are testing seaweed, genetically-modified grass, and enzyme binder 3-nitrooxypropyl to be used as feed additives to control methane outputs. These additions are being developed to essentially rewire the inner-workings of cow stomachs to reduce the animal's desire to burp and fart. Most cows within the animal agriculture industry are already forced to consume diets of corn and soy instead of grass, the animal's natural diet. While farmers look for solutions to the environmental disaster created by animal agriculture—other ideas have included the purchase of $500 million methane digesters and utilization of "Fart Packs," or a methane-trapping device strapped onto a cow, that's similar to a backpack—several dairy farmers in California have found that a profitable endeavor is to abandon dairy farming in favor of cultivating almond groves, a move that has led to 10,000 fewer dairy cows in the state.
11/10/2016 NEW YORKER FILES $5 MILLION LAWSUIT FOR BEEF FOUND IN FRIES
New Yorker Alexa Borenkoff filed a class-action lawsuit on November 2 against chain restaurant Buffalo Wild Wings. Borenkoff was prompted to file the suit—in which she demands $5 million in damages—after discovering that the restaurant failed to disclose the presence of beef in their vegetarian items. The vegetarian consumed French fries and mozzarella sticks at two New York locations of the restaurant last year before discovering the presence of beef fat. This week, Wall Street's financial news outlet The Street advised investors to "avoid [Buffalo Wild Wings'] stock like the plague," due to the company's drop in sales by 3.5-percent weekly. In addition to Buffalo Wild Wings, competitor restaurants—including McDonald's, —have experienced stagnant sales, while those that have heeded increased customer demand for meat-free options (such as Pret a Manger) continue to thrive.
11/10/2016 BURGER KING AMONG BRANDS PROFITING FROM DEFORESTATION
A report compiled by The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) revealed that the top 13 United States consumer products brands lack sufficient policies to ensure they are not directly participating in the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. The report identified the clearing of land for beef production as the number one culprit of deforestation in South America, followed by the production of soy—most of which is used for animal feed. UCS graded each company out of a possible 100 points, basing their ratings on whether there were policies in place regarding obtaining beef from South American suppliers, whether those policies were being implemented, and how transparent companies were in identifying the origin of their beef ingredients. Burger King, ConAgra Foods, Kroger, and Pizza Hut each received a score of zero—as all lacked public policies that would detach them from "deforestation-risk beef." UCS gave Subway, Jack Link's, Wendy's, Hormel Foods, Nestlé, and Safeway scores below 30, due to their weak policies. McDonald's, Mars, and Walmart received the highest scores for. UCS believes that policy gaps within these 13 companies enable them to profit from deforestation.
11/10/2016 WELSH MEAT PLANT DOWNSIZES DUE TO DROP IN DEMAND
South Wales-based meat packer St. Merryn Foods Group announced that it will no longer be able to sustain its 1100-member work force due to declining demand for red meat. The meat company plans to lay off approximately 400 employees to mitigate lost profits. "We do not take the decision to launch this review lightly, but it is the only way our business can survive and prosper for the longer term," the company said in a statement. St. Merryn is working with job centers and the Welsh government to relocate former employees outside of the meat sector. Local reporter Hannah Thomas says, "Perhaps we're losing our appetite for red meat." Two-thirds of residents of the United Kingdom substantially reduced their intake of red meat after the United Nations reclassified processed meats into the same category as carcinogens last year.
11/09/2016 SEA SHEPHERD TELLS GREENPEACE TO GO VEGAN
Founder of vegan environmental organization Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson penned an op-ed on Huffington Post to address the hypocrisy of serving animal products aboard Greenpeace ships. Watson's commentary was sparked by a Facebook post wherein crew members from the Greenpeace Esperanza—one of three Greenpeace ships—posed the question "Should we eat meat on board Greenpeace ships?" Watson co-founded Greenpeace in 1971 but left in 1978 to found Sea Shepherd where he instituted a vegan policy across all nine ships by 1998. The captain points out that the issue of whether animals products belong on Greenpeace's menus has been up for debate for decades, with little policy change. Watson recounts an instance when he was invited to dine on Esparanza in 2005, and discovered that meat was served for dinner. "Were shocked to see they were serving a fish dinner on the eve of departing on a campaign to protect fish," Watson says and explains, "Vegan meals fit into our mutual primary motivation—to save this planet from ourselves."
11/09/2016 VEGANISM IS KEY TO WORLD PHOSPHOROUS STABILITY
New research published in sustainability outlet Frontiers in Nutrition revealed that shifting to a plant-based diet is essential to achieving global phosphorus stability. The comprehensive study—led by researcher Geneviève S. Metson of the University of Technology, Sydney—found that switching to a vegan diet would slash demand for mined phosphorus by 44-percent in the United States. Phosphorus is a limited mineral resource that is primarily mined to be used in fertilizer for feed grown to support animal agriculture. The side effects of removing it from the ground include severe degradation of drinkable water, as well as toxic runoff—which causes impairment of fish habitats and growth of harmful algal blooms. In addition to emitting more greenhouse gasses than all transportation combined, as this research shows, animal agriculture is responsible for the dangers associated with the depletion of phosphorus stores.
11/09/2016 CHINA CONSIDERS ANIMAL-FREE COSMETICS TESTING
For the first time, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) is anticipated to recognize data collected from non-animal tests as acceptable for the safety evaluations of cosmetics. The Insitute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) in Gaithersburg, MD submitted its 3T3 Phototoxicity method, which relies on measuring the potential harm of a chemical after exposure to light. China surpassed the United States in 2010 as the largest manufacturer of consumer goods in the world, and currently requires all cosmetic products sold to the public to be tested on animals. IIVS is currently developing training programs to assist scientists in China with using the new method with its fourth training session currently in progress at the Zhejiang Institute for Food and Drug control in Hangzhou, China. When the CFDA officially publishes IIVS' work, the method can be used to determine the safety of cosmetics, personal care products, and individual ingredients.
11/08/2016 FARM SANCTUARY CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF SAVING ANIMALS
Animal-rights organization Farm Sanctuary will celebrate its 30-year anniversary with a star-studded gala on November 12 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. The event will be hosted by comedian Kevin Nealon and will feature Tracey Stewart—wife of funnyman Jon Stewart and co-owner of Farm Sanctuary's New Jersey branch, as well as makeup mogul and tattoo artist Kat Von D, actress Emily Deschanel, musician Leona Lewis, amongst others. Attendees will be treated to a vegan dinner using plant-based meats from Gardein. Vegan hot dogs will also be offered, served out of a Volkswagen Westfalia van—a nod to Farm Sanctuary co-founder Gene Baur's early activist days serving meat-free food at Grateful Dead concerts. Musician and activist Moby and comedian Jon Stewart will be presenting various awards at the event. Los Angeles vegan restaurant Crossroads will be presented with an "Inspiration Award," while Von D and Lewis will receive the "Compassion in Action Award" and "The Friends Not Food Award," respectively. The organization provides lifelong care for rescued farm animals across four sanctuary locations in New York, New Jersey, and California.
11/08/2016 NYC FASHION RETAILER GOES FUR-FREE
New York-based fashion retailer INTERMIX—a subsidiary of Gap Inc.—announced that it will no longer sell clothing made with fur at all 40 of its retail stores throughout the US and Canada. The action comes after the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urged the company to reconsider its promotion of the cruel fur industry. "INTERMIX's compassionate and business-savvy decision to ban fur has made a world of difference for animals who are caged, shocked, beaten, and skinned alive for coats, collars, and cuffs," PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman says. INTERMIX is a Gap Inc. brand, and joins Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, H&M, J. Crew, and Armani (amongst many others) in banning fur from fashion stores. Reiman urges retailers and brands that continue to use fur to follow INTERMIX' lead.
11/08/2016 MORRISEY URGES AUSTRALIA TO END LIVE ANIMAL EXPORT
The Smiths' singer and animal-rights activist Morrissey recently penned a letter to Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce asking that he end the export of live animals. According to PETA—an organization with which the musician partnered to write the letter—millions of animals are exported out of Australia annually on seafaring vessels where they are exposed to the elements and often die from dehydration, disease, and starvation. "The horrific cruelty in the live-export industry is heavy enough to sink a ship," Morrissey writes, "yet you insist on condemning millions of animals to this fate every year." Morrissey pleas with Joyce, stating "If meat is murder, then live export is the slow boat to hell," before asking him to put "the live-export industry out of its misery immediately."
11/07/2016 TAIWAN TO END COSMETIC ANIMAL TESTING BY 2019
An anti-animal testing bill that will effectively ban the sale of cosmetics tested on animals—including ingredients and end-products—was signed into Taiwan's legislation two weeks ago. The bill was initiated in April and promoted by Humane Society International, which worked in partnership with the Taiwan SPCA to launch the #BeCrueltyFree Taiwan campaign. Unfortunately, the Taiwanese ban will not extend to products exported from other countries. In 2013, India placed a similar ban on cosmetic testing. However, manufacturing giant China remains one of the largest countries to test consumer products on animals, resulting in the exploitation of approximately 30,000 rabbits, mice, and other animals.
11/07/2016 TACO BELL LAUNCHES VEGAN GUIDE
Fast-food chain Taco Bell recently published "How to Eat Vegan at Taco Bell" on its website with the subtitle, "because vegans need their Taco Bell fix, too." The restaurant debuted a vegetarian menu last October that contained 13 items, and was the first of its kind to be approved by the American Vegetarian Association. Shortly thereafter, Taco Bell created a landing page for "How to Eat Vegetarian and Meatless at Taco Bell," and reported that the vegetarian black bean burrito was a top-seller across locations. The new vegan guide was launched because customers responded positively to Taco Bell's initiative to promote vegetarian items, and demanded a similar guide be created for vegan options. "How to Eat Vegan at Taco Bell" features nine customized vegan menu items and gives specific directions for how to order them in-store and online. Additionally, Taco Bell provides a comprehensive list of sides and sauces that do not contain animal products.
11/07/2016 NEW TECHNOLOGY TO STOP MALE CHICK CULLING SET TO LAUNCH
New technology TeraEgg, developed by Ovabrite—a subsidiary of egg producer Vital Farms—will eliminate the cruel egg industry practice of "male chick culling." Male chick culling is a common practice in the egg industry where male chicks, who are not suited for either egg-laying nor being raised for meat, are ground up alive in maceration machines, or suffocated. The technology will detect the sex of an egg embryo, allowing workers to remove male eggs before the incubation period. In June, industry group United Egg Producers (UEP) announced they would eliminate the practice by 2020, which will reduce the suffering of an estimated seven billion male chicks every year. While the development of TeraEgg is a step that will end a certain form of cruelty inherent within the egg industry, egg-laying hens—even those in cage-free facilities—continue to face many other forms of cruelty.
11/04/2016 DEMAND FOR VEGAN PROTEIN TO DOUBLE BY 2024
Market research company Lux Research released a report entitled "Finding a Winning Formula for Alternative Proteins" that predicted the demand for plant-based sources of protein will grow by 14-percent annually, and will double current demand by 2024. The report predicts that global protein demand will reach 943.5 metric tons by 2054, stating, "Developers will race to explore new sources and create new formulations to mitigate the negative environmental impact of the existing protein supply chain." The report analyzed 20 plant-based protein ingredients and found that three—pea, soy, and oat—will drive the increased demand. Researchers point out that innovation in crop yield and quality, in addition to proper formulations that deliver the taste and feel customers expect from animal proteins, will be key factors to companies focused on delivering plant-based protein products that meet this rising demand.
11/04/2016 WORLD TO LOSE TWO THIRDS OF ANIMALS BY 2020
New research called the Living Planet Index, compiled by environmental group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), reveals that by 2020, the number of wild animals living on Earth will decline to 67-percent of the totals recorded in 1970. Researchers found that animal populations across habitats have steadily plummeted between 1970 and 2012, and identified farming as a major contributor to the loss in the diversification of terrestrial wildlife. The hardest hit populations are those living in the water, as 81-percent of fish populations have been decimated since 1970. To make matters worse, another report published in Royal Society Open Science on October 19 shows that 301 species of land mammals—particularly primates—have been eaten into extinction.
11/04/2016 BEYOND MEAT PARTNERS WITH VEGGIE GRILL
Plant-based company Beyond Meat partnered with vegan fast-casual chain Veggie Grill to sell Beyond Burgers at 28 restaurant locations. The popular vegan burger—which appears to "bleed," thanks to beet juice—launched in the meat section of a Boulder, CO Whole Foods Market in May, where it sold out within one hour. Supported by the investment that meat producer Tyson made in Beyond Meat earlier last month, CEO Ethan Brown is planning an aggressive expansion of the innovative burger to Whole Foods Markets nationwide by the end of the year. Veggie Grill CEO Steve Heeley says the burger is an iconic piece of Americana, and Beyond Meat's version is "the holy grail" of vegetarian burgers, stating, "We think this is something that our guests are going to flock to." Veggie Grill restaurants will offer the burger for $12.95 in early December.
11/03/2016 LEONARDO DICAPRIO'S CLIMATE CHANGE FILM PREMIERS
Environmental documentary Before the Flood debuted on National Geographic on October 30. The film is executively produced by and follows Leonardo DiCaprio as he explores the effects of climate change around the planet, and offers solutions to reducing carbon emissions. It features interviews with current president Barack Obama, eco-minded visionary Elon Musk, and Pope Francis, amongst others. The film is the culmination of three years of filming and reveals harrowing facts about human activities that have impacted the health of the enviornment, including raising animals for food. National Geographic has created a toolkit around the film to help viewers reduce their carbon footprints—including infographic tips, the first of which advocates reducing the consumption of meat. In an effort to spread awareness about climate change, National Geographic has made Before the Flood available for free streaming on multiple media platforms—including YouTube, where it has already amassed over 2 million views.
11/03/2016 VEGAN CANNABIS MILK LAUNCHES IN UK
London-based vegan café and food company Rawligion launched cannabis-based milk beverage Relax last month. The limited edition elixir is made with only hemp seeds, cashews, dates, coconut oil, vanilla, water, and cannabidiol—which the founders tout promotes calmness and tranquility. Rawligion development consultant Michael Isted says while the formula doesn’t produce the same effects as smoking cannabis, "it's used for a multitude of different health issues, including anxiety, cancer (particularly the side effects of conventional treatment), pain relief, depression, and sleep disorders." Relax is available through Rawligion, both in-store and online, to residents of central London only. The new cannabis-based vegan milk is yet another addition to the growing number of plants that can be used to create animal-free dairy alternatives.
11/03/2016 VIRAL "ONLINE EATING" MOVEMENT SPREADING VEGANISM
The Mukbang movement—a South Korean phenomenon started in 2014, which translates to "eating broadcast"—is gaining traction amongst vegan participants. The basis of the movement is for people to connect with each other by filming themselves eating large meals and broadcasting the video to online followers. United Kingdom-based vegan couple Darren and Georgie Spindler—founders of YouTube channel Vegan Fitness TV—recently became "mukbangers" by filming themselves consuming a large vegan meal of pressure-cooked millet, steamed broccoli and carrots, and Linda McCartney's meatless sausages. In addition to explaining the contents of their meal, the couple offered information about why they choose to eschew animal products. The impetus for the movement has been linked to urban isolation, which makes watching people eat in social settings enjoyable.
11/02/2016 VEGAN BUTCHER WINS NATIONAL AWARD
USA Today crowned Minneapolis-based vegan butcher shop The Herbivorous Butcher the winner of its nationwide contest to determine America's best food and drink makers. The vegan butcher shop was up against nine other finalists, including upcycled spirit decanters Reclamation Etchworks and candy-makers Sparkling Sweets Boutique—who took second and third place, respectively. Initial nominations were made by USA Today's editorial staff plus a panel of experts, before voting was opened to readers in September. The Herbivorous Butcher gained popularity as the first all-vegan butcher shop to open in the United States, and continues to innovate their plant-based meat and cheese creations to attract customers across the country.
11/02/2016 MOBY TO PERFORM ON CRUISE TO BENEFIT ANIMALS
Animal activist and famed musician Moby will give a live acoustic performance aboard a yacht for an event called "Cruise for a Cause: Making Waves for Animals," hosted by animal-rights organization Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). The evening cruise will feature vegan food, music, auction items, and a hosted bar. The event will celebrate ALDF's animal-related victories from 2016, and celebrities such as actress Charlotte Ross, television legend Ed Asner, and HBO's True Blood star Kristin Bauer are scheduled to attend. Moby recently hosted vegan festival Circle V in Los Angeles where he donated all profits to animal-rights organization Mercy for Animals. His LA-based restaurant Little Pine also donates 100-percent of profits to animal advocacy organizations, including ALDF. The cruise departs from Marina Del Rey in California on November 5.
The number of news found: 53.
