Health

New York City Health and Hospitals

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Default Plant-Based Meals at New York City Health + Hospitals See Over 90% Patient Satisfaction

Since 2021, plant-based meals have been the default option for patients at New York City Health + Hospitals. Now, a new paper published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine has found that the policy has high patient satisfaction, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and lowers costs. Patient acceptance of the plant-based meals, which are the primary lunch and dinner option at 11 hospitals, is extremely high at more than 95%. Patient satisfaction is not far behind, reaching over 90%. Calculations indicate that the hospital system’s emissions have reduced by 36% as a result of the plant-based menu, while the cost of the plant-based entrees is $0.59 less than for meals containing animal products. This saved a total of $318,000 in 2023. The program has been …

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Jasmine Uchi, PharmD

Supplied by Jasmine Uchi

Op Ed: Jasmine Uchi of VeganMed – Hidden Animal Ingredients in Medicine Put Patients at Risk

Dr. Jasmine Uchi, is the Director of Medical Affairs and Operations at VeganMed, Inc. and an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific’s Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy. Often referred to as the “alpha-gal pharmacist,” Dr. Uchi is recognized for her expertise in addressing Alpha-gal Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening allergy. She has made significant contributions to patient safety and health equity through her published research, which has gained attention across multiple media platforms. Additionally, Dr. Uchi is a registered pharmacist and a TEDx speaker, passionately advocating for ingredient transparency in medicine to promote safer and more inclusive healthcare practices.  In this article, she discusses the critical need for transparency regarding animal-derived ingredients in medications. The Hidden Ingredients in Our Medications: Why Pharma Must …

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Sperri plant-based meal replacement beverage

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Plant-Based Meal Replacement Brand Sperri to Expand Into the US Following New Investment

Sperri, a Canadian brand of organic and allergen-free plant-based meal replacement beverages, has announced a new investment. Led by Nàdarra Ventures and supported by Invest Nova Scotia, the funding will allow Sperri to expand into the US and develop new products. Sperri was co-founded by Gregg Curwin, President and CEO of nutrition company Novagevity, and Dr. Mary Lynch, a physician and pain management specialist. Lynch was inspired to develop the beverages after noticing that many of her patients struggled to tolerate existing meal replacements due to ingredients such as dairy, gluten, refined sugars, and soy protein. To come up with a solution, Lynch partnered with Curwin, a seasoned entrepreneur. Their collaboration resulted in the development of Sperri, which is said to be Canada’s first organic …

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child of color, school cafeteria, food security, social justice, impossible foods, Colin Kaepernick, Know Your Rights Camp

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New USDA Rules Expand Vegan Options in School Meals

USDA’s new school meal standards will give greater access to nutritious foods for vegetarian and vegan children and those with dietary restrictions. This is an important step, as research indicates that school meals are American schoolchildren’s most important food source. The new rules, which took effect on July 1, 2024, were released by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They aim to improve the nutritional quality of school meals and other USDA Child Nutrition Programs. Beans, peas, and lentils Under the new rules, schools can combine grains, meats, and meat alternatives as meal components. Beans, peas, and lentils can replace meat at lunch, and cafeterias can offer dishes such as black bean burgers stir-fried with tofu, falafel …

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Report analyses health and sustainability of plant-based meat alternative categories

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Report: All Plant-Based Meat Alternative Categories Have Lower Emissions, Less Saturated Fat & More Fibre Than Meat

A new report by The Food Foundation has analysed the environmental and health benefits of a variety of plant-based meat alternatives. The products are divided into three categories — new-generation meat alternatives such as Beyond Meat and Quorn, traditional meat alternatives like tofu and tempeh, and whole plant foods such as beans and grains. The results indicate that all three categories generate significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than meat and have a much lower water footprint. On average, they also contain fewer calories, lower levels of saturated fat, and more fibre. Overall, the whole food category was found to be the healthiest and most sustainable, with the highest fibre content and the lowest amounts of saturated fat, calories, and salt. These products are also more …

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AHDB campaign condemned by The Vegan Society

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The Vegan Society: UK Government-Backed Meat Campaign is “Irresponsible Propaganda”

The Vegan Society has condemned a UK advertising campaign promoting the consumption of red meat, which has been launched by the government-sponsored Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). According to The Vegan Society, the Let’s Eat Balanced campaign is “irresponsible propaganda”, since it contradicts recommendations by health and sustainability bodies. The charity points out that NHS guidance recommends eating no more than 70g of red or processed meat per day, since these products have been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer by the World Health Organization. While the AHDB campaign suggests eating meat as a source of protein and vitamin B12, the British Dietetic Association (BDA) says these nutrients can be easily obtained on a plant-based diet. Furthermore, the BDA recognises that plant-based …

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Plant-Based Foods of Canada

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Study: Plant-Based Diets May Significantly Decrease Age Acceleration in Just Eight Weeks

A new study has found that plant-based diets could significantly decrease epigenetic age acceleration, effectively slowing the biological aging process. The study took 21 pairs of 39-year-old twins, with one twin from each pair consuming a healthy vegan diet and the other eating a balanced omnivorous diet. After a period of just eight weeks, the plant-based twins showed significant decreases in overall epigenetic age acceleration compared to the omnivorous participants. They also lost two kilograms more than the meat-eaters on average, due to consuming 200 fewer calories per day. Reduced disease processes The research found that the plant-based eaters showed reductions in key system-specific disease processes, including inflammation and the heart, liver, metabolic, and hormonal systems. The authors note that these findings align with the …

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animal vs plant proteins

Image courtesy of The Freedom Food Alliance

Upcoming Report to Address “Tidal Wave”of Nutrition Misinformation on Social Media

The Freedom Food Alliance has announced a strategic partnership with Rooted Research Collective to publish a new report titled Nutrition Misinformation in the Digital Age. The report aims to address the spread of inaccurate dietary information on social media, after a recent survey found that 57% of Millennial and Gen Z TikTok users have been swayed by nutrition trends on the platform. A huge 98% of these trends, including extreme ones such as the carnivore diet and liquid cleanses, are said to go against public health and nutrition guidelines. 31% of users who have tried them say they experienced negative health effects. To raise awareness of this issue, the upcoming report will highlight the influence of social media on dietary trends by analyzing the spread …

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Norwegian dietary guidelines

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Norway Becomes Latest Country to Recommend Eating Mostly Plants in New Dietary Guidelines

Norway has published updated dietary guidelines that recommend choosing mostly plant-based foods and limiting red and processed meat consumption. The guidelines advise that all meals should include fruits and vegetables, while several servings of whole grains should be eaten each day. Meanwhile, the maximum recommended red meat consumption has been lowered from 500g to 350g per week, and people are advised to eat as little processed meat as possible. The protein group in the food wheel now contains legumes and tofu as well as meat and seafood, and the recommendations suggest replacing some or all of the meat in certain dishes with beans or lentils. Low-fat dairy consumption is still recommended as a source of calcium, but the guidelines acknowledge that plant-based alternatives are a …

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Silk almond milk

© Silk

Listeria Outbreak in Plant-Based Milk: It’s Time to Give Some Context to the Reality of the Situation

A Listeria outbreak linked to Silk and Great Value plant-based milk products in Canada has recently made headlines, causing significant concern among consumers and prompting a large-scale recall by Danone, the parent company of Silk. The French food giant recalled 18 different products, including three almond beverages under the Great Value brand, all produced at a third-party manufacturing facility in Pickering, Ontario. Although the investigation into the exact cause of the outbreak is ongoing, this incident has raised questions about food safety in the plant-based sector. Listeria is a genus of bacteria, with Listeria monocytogenes being the most significant species concerning human health. This pathogen can cause listeriosis, a severe infection, especially in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with …

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PCRM Recommends That Indians Adopt Plant-Based Diets to Address Growing Obesity Crisis

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has recommended that Indians adopt a plant-based diet to combat the country’s obesity crisis. Figures from India’s National Health Family Survey indicate that obesity prevalence has reached 23% in men and 24% in women, while waist-to-hip ratio data shows that 48% of men and 57% of women are at “substantial increased risk of metabolic complication”. This has been blamed on the increasing availability, affordability, and shelf life of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. The PCRM explains that the westernization of Indian diets, along with increased preferences for less healthy Indian foods such as deep-fried products and dishes made with ghee, has contributed to rising obesity rates. The organization advocates managing obesity by centering diets on minimally …

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plant based products on shelf

Image courtesy of ProVeg International

The Intersection of Sustainability and Nutrition in Food Innovation

In the rapidly changing food industry, prioritising sustainability and improving the nutritional profiles of products has never been more crucial. Food companies can play an important role through responsible product development, reformulation, and fortification. ProVeg International’s latest New Food Hub guide dives into the intersection of these vital areas, giving food industry stakeholders actionable insights to drive positive change. Here, we highlight why this approach is important for the food industry’s future, sharing some insights from the guide. Where nutrition and sustainability meet The global food system faces immense pressure to feed a growing population while addressing climate change, resource depletion, and public health challenges. Traditional food production methods are no longer sufficient. The industry must innovate to produce food that supports both human health …

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New version of Austrian Nutritional Recommendations

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Austria Publishes New Nutritional Recommendations That Advise Consuming Predominantly Plant-Based Foods

An updated version of the Austrian Nutritional Recommendations, commissioned by the country’s Ministry of Health, has recommended consuming more plant-based foods and fewer animal products. A new “plate model” published as part of the guidelines suggests that 50% of a person’s diet should consist of fruits and vegetables. Another 25% should be made up of whole grains and potatoes, and the final quarter should consist of predominantly plant-based proteins. For the first time, legumes and legume-based products (such as tofu and soy yogurt) have been given their own category in the new recommendations. Omnivores are advised to eat three servings of these products per week, while vegetarians should eat four. Meat-eaters are also advised not to eat more than three servings of meat and fish …

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A bowl with algae oil

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Study Finds Switching From Animal Fats to Plant-based Fats Reduces Risk of Disease

Switching from a diet high in saturated animal fats to a diet rich in plant-based unsaturated fats influences the fat composition in the blood. This in turn influences the long-term risk of disease, finds a recent study. The study, published in Nature Medicine, conducted by a team of researchers from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE), Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and several other universities, shows that it is possible to accurately measure diet-related fat changes in the blood. These can then be directly linked to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. “Our study confirms with even greater certainty than before the health benefits of a diet with a high proportion of unsaturated vegetable fats, such as those …

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Fresh green broccoli on orange background

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Study Finds Plant Nitrates Linked to Lower Mortality Risk, Raises Concerns Over Animal Sources

New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia, led by Dr. Nicola Bondonno, has found that nitrate from plants can lower the risk of death from various causes, including heart disease and cancer. On the other hand, nitrates from animal products and processed meats can lead to a higher mortality risk. Nitrate and nitrite are found in food and drink; their sources could be plants, processed meats (added as additives), drinking water, or animal products, where they naturally occur, and their consumption impacts human health in various ways. The source matters To shed light on the topic, the study researched whether the health outcomes associated with nitrate and nitrite consumption differed depending on the source of these compounds. After examining 52,247 participants from the Danish …

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© Beyond Meat

So, We Have Reached Peak Vegan Sausage?

This is a story about Beyond Meat’s fourth iteration of its plant-based sausage, how we have reached “peak vegan sausage”, and how these “fake vegan meats” are apparently dangerous for our health. Beyond Meat today unveiled the fourth iteration of the Beyond Sausage, offering “enhanced flavor and meaty texture while raising the bar on nutrition and earning recognition from leading health organizations”. Like the recent reformulation of the Beyond Burger patty, the sausages are now made with avocado oil and contain 2g of saturated fat per link and 17g of protein per link. Additionally, the new formula features a 66% reduced saturated fat content compared to the previous version of Beyond Sausage, is certified as part of the American Diabetes Association’s Better Choices for Life …

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Tufts / Tender Food

Tufts / Tender Food

FAIRR & Tufts University Publish Protein Research Paper for Investors, While Tufts Announces “Unprecedented” Cell Ag Hires

The FAIRR initiative — a global network of investors addressing ESG issues in the food system — has partnered with Tufts University to publish a paper called the ‘Protein and Nutrition Research Overview’ for investors. According to the authors, ESG frameworks tend to focus on environmental issues such as carbon emissions without taking nutrition into account, resulting in a tradeoff between health and environmental priorities. However, there is considerable potential for investors to be aligned with both, especially with the rise of “sustainable nutrition” funds. Setting the record straight & debunking misconceptions The new overview outlines major protein sources in food, setting the record straight about their health effects with supporting scientific evidence. It also outlines notable trends, risks, and opportunities in the protein supply …

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The Lancet

© The Lancet

Media Wildly Misrepresents Findings of UPF Study in The Lancet to Slander Plant-Based Foods

Earlier this week, a study was published in The Lancet examining the health impacts of plant-sourced ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The results showed that while unprocessed plant-based foods decrease cardiovascular disease risk, ultra-processed plant-sourced foods may have the opposite effect. However, the study has attracted a slew of misleading coverage from mainstream media outlets, with some articles giving the impression that the UPFs in the study were predominantly meat alternatives. For example, a clickbait headline in The Telegraph falsely declared “Vegans are slowly killing themselves”, with the subheading “There’s nothing healthy about ultra-highly processed fake ‘meat’ products”. Unsurprisingly, the writer of the article is a dairy farmer. In reality, plant-based meats represented just 0.2% of the diets of the study participants, while foods such as packaged …

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healthy food bowl

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This “Ushers in a New Era in Nutrition Policy”: German Scientific Society DGE Revises Stance on Veganism

The German Nutrition Society (DGE), the country’s most influential body on nutrition policy, has revised its official position on vegan nutrition and declared that a vegan diet is extremely environmentally friendly and can be beneficial to health. In its new position on vegan nutrition, for the first time, the organisation considers the environment, animal welfare, and social issues as objectives of a more sustainable diet alongside health. This has decisive consequences: the professional organisation for nutrition, whose recommendations largely shape communal catering and nutritional advice in Germany, has moved away from its negative stance. “This new position ushers in a new era in nutrition policy in Germany,” comments Anna-Lena Klapp, International Nutrition and Health Lead at ProVeg. “Together with the recently updated DGE guidelines, the new …

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Disinformation and Propaganda Meter that is hitting a full scale, showing a very high level of disinformation, overload of it, too much of it. Maximum value, off the charts. ,3d illustration

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“Inaccurate and Misleading”: Health Professionals Condemn Meat & Dairy Campaign Backed by UK Government

The Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) has joined forces with Plant-Based Health Professionals UK (PBHP UK) to call out a government-backed campaign promoting meat and dairy consumption. The organisations have sent an open letter to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to highlight their concerns over the Let’s Eat Balanced campaign. Timed to coincide with Veganuary, the campaign advocates consuming meat as a source of protein, zinc, iron, and vitamin B12. But DAUK and PBHP UK say that promoting animal product consumption is “at odds with established scientific evidence on healthy and sustainable diets”, and have called for the campaign to be retracted. The organisations argue that the campaign’s claims are “inaccurate and misleading”, since …

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