Health

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World’s First Compostable, Medical Grade Plant-Based Face Mask Approved by FDA

PADM Medical‘s PRECISION ECO plant-based procedural mask has become the world’s first plant-based face mask to receive FDA approval for use in medical and healthcare settings. The masks contain plant-based biopolymers that are fully compostable. You would be hard-pressed in these post-pandemic times to find a human on Earth that hasn’t witnessed discarded face masks polluting the environment. Billions of petroleum-based, disposable surgical masks are discarded each year. This study analysed data on mask and glove litter across 11 countries, and the results are truly heartbreaking. According to Greenpeace,1.3 billion surgical masks were produced in Taiwan at the peak of the pandemic, generating 5,500 metric tonnes of waste in a three month period alone. Says PADM Medical, “Most Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) consists of petroleum-based, …

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Silk Product Range

©Silk/ Danone North America

Danone North America Plans to Reformulate 70% of Its Milk Alternatives to Be Healthier

Danone North America announced recently it will invest $22M in new health and wellness initiatives, including reformulating 70% of its plant-based milk alternatives with healthier ingredients.  Prioritizing nutrition The global dairy conglomerate revealed its pledge at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health held last week. In an effort to support the dietary health of 300 million Americans, Danone says it is committed to reducing added sugars across its children’s products, and will increase the nutrient density of most of its plant-based beverages. In 2020, the company partnered with bioscience startup BrightSeed to “usher in a new era of precision nutrition” for its plant-based products using artificial intelligence.   Danone, which owns dairy-free brands Silk, So Delicious and Alpro, also plans to allocate $15M …

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Roquette acquires Crest Cellulose

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Roquette Acquires Crest Cellulose to Meet Rising Demand for Plant-Based Excipients

Roquette has fully acquired Crest Cellulose, an Indian producer of excipients for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Roquette purchased a majority share in Crest in 2018, and hopes that the recent acquisition will allow it to meet rising demand for plant-based excipients. After becoming a Roquette subsidiary, Crest will help to provide premium quality and pharmacopoeia-compliant solutions to its parent company’s customers. Animal-free excipients currently manufactured by Crest include MICROCEL™ microcrystalline cellulose and Roquette Magnesium Stearate. The acquisition will significantly expand Roquette’s capabilities, allowing it to supply customers throughout India, Asia, and further afield. Plant-based medications With a huge proportion of medications containing ingredients of animal origin, a few companies are working to develop alternatives. Earlier this year, axunio launched the world’s first Vegan Society-certified …

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Plant-based meals the default option in NYC hospitals

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New York City Hospitals Make Plant-Based Meals the Default Option

The Better Food Foundation has partnered with New York City Health + Hospitals and the Mayor’s Office to make plant-based meals the default at all 11 NYC hospitals. While meat-based options remain available, the two daily Chef’s Specials are now always plant-based. So far, the program has been hugely successful, with over half of patients opting for the plant-based dishes and 95% saying they were satisfied with their choice. Initially, the plant-based meals were only offered at lunchtimes, but they have proved so popular that the scheme will be extended to dinner. This is despite the fact that only 1% of patients identify as vegetarian or vegan. The program is part of The Better Food Foundation’s Greener by Default initiative, which aims to help healthcare …

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Kate Farms Plant-Based Nutrition

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Kate Farms Closes $75M Series C Round to Expand Plant-Based Nutrition in Hospitals

Kate Farms, a leader in plant-based nutritional formulas, announces it has closed $75M in Series C funding, in a round led by life science investor Novo Holdings. The funding brings the company’s total raise to over $135M, and will be used to fuel additional innovation in the brand’s portfolio, develop new products and enter new market channels. “I’m pleased that… investors appreciate the significant potential of plant-based nutrition and Kate Farms’ leadership in this rapidly growing market” Accessible in over 95% of US hospitals, including top children’s hospitals, Kate Farms produces plant-based, organic and clinically demonstrated formulas for those with chronic illnesses and acute conditions. Its entire product portfolio, used for tube and oral feeding, is USDA organic and non-GMO certified, while being free from common …

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Seaweed tampons

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Vyld’s Seaweed Tampons Outperform Conventional Products

Vyld, a Berlin-based startup that develops period products made from seaweed, claims that its fiber tampons outperform conventional products when tested for vaginal microbiome presence. Vyld’s news comes from a scientific study in collaboration with MyMicrobiome, the world’s leading company in independent microbiome-friendly certifications. “The results of the pilot project are promising: lactobacilli, which are important for the vaginal microbiome, showed above-average positive growth compared to comparative products made from cotton and viscose. An intact vaginal microbiome is important to ward off pathogens,” explains Dr. Kristin Neumann, CEO of MyMicrobiome.  The Kelpon tampons Conventional menstruation products used worldwide contain toxic substances dangerous for women besides generating immense amounts of waste that pollute waters and soils.  According to the company, its Kelpon tampons are plastic-free and …

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Mighty Yum Plant-Based Lunchables

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Mighty Yum Unveils New Line of “Nostalgic” Plant-Based Lunch Kits

Seeking to fill a major market gap for fun and healthy finger foods, Mighty Yum is debuting a new line of nutritious, meat-and dairy-free lunch kits at the Plant Based World Expo, taking place in New York City from Sept. 8th – 9th.  Made with 100% plant-based ingredients, Mighty Yum’s products offer a healthy twist on nostalgic children’s lunch kits, with a significantly improved nutritional panel. Available in classic flavors such as turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, and pepperoni pizza, Mighty Yum’s meals are non-GMO and filled with superfood ingredients, with the same flavor and texture as traditional meat and cheese.  Better kids’ meals The brand was founded by Marc Elkman and Howard Pane, two fathers who recognized the difficulty of finding healthy, tasty …

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PCRM

As Nation’s Obesity Epidemic Continues to Rise, Physicians Slam USDA for $21.9 Million Effort to Market Meat to Americans

Announcement of bacon boondoggle especially egregious on eve of White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, doctors say WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a national nonprofit, public health organization with more than 17,000 doctor members, slammed the U.S. Department of Agriculture today for its gift of $21.9 million to help the meat industry push its products on U.S. consumers, many of whom suffer from obesity, diabetes, and other ailments made worse by consumption of these products. “Rather than marketing products known to contribute to our obesity epidemic and ill health, the USDA should instead support America’s farmers growing the very products, like fruits, vegetables, and legumes, that we know benefit human health, help fight chronic disease, and contribute to healthy weight,” says …

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Kevin Hart Vegan Fast Food

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Kevin Hart’s Vegan Hart House Restaurant Opening Aug. 25, With Eye Towards National Expansion

Comedian Kevin Hart reveals his plant-based fast food concept, Hart House, will open its first location in LA’s Westchester neighborhood on Thursday, August 25th.  Serving a menu of burg’rs, chick’n sandwiches, salads, fries, and milkshakes, Hart House aims to “disrupt fast food” with healthier and more affordable plant-based options, Hart says.  Several Southern California locations are already in the works, and the brand is looking toward US national expansion, with the eventual goal of competing with fast food giants like McDonald’s and Burger King, reports Nation’s Restaurant News.  Custom-made proteins Hart House is serving proprietary plant-based meats created by Mike Salem, Burger King’s former head of culinary innovation, who was hired by Hart House’s team to develop all-new protein analogs.  “Our analogs are at such …

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Everything Legendary Plant-Based Cheeseburger

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“Power of Plant-Based” Report Shows US Consumers Want Tastier, Healthier Alternative Proteins

The Food Industry Association has released its inaugural “Power of Plant-Based” report, which covers alternative meat and dairy as well as naturally derived plant foods like fruits and vegetables. Among the survey’s insights, it finds taste and healthiness remain key drivers for plant-based purchasing decisions.  Buying habits According to FMI, almost half of all shoppers are making some effort to buy plant-based food and beverages, and many expect to strongly increase their future consumption. For regular plant-based consumers, 35% said consumption will increase “a little more”, while 27% said future consumption will increase “a lot more”. A quarter of consumers regularly consume milk alternatives and 21% regularly consume other dairy alternatives. About 20% of shoppers typically consume meat alternatives. A quarter of consumers regularly buy …

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Daring & Juice Press Healthy Vegan Chicken Wrap

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Juice Press Partners with Daring for New Plant-Based Chicken Salad Wrap

Juice Press, a juice bar chain with over 80 locations across the US, has partnered with plant chicken brand Daring for its new Plant-Based Chik’n Salad Wrap.  Protein lunch Containing 19 grams of protein, the menu item features Daring chicken, cashew cream and chickpeas served in a whole wheat wrap. Customers can find the wrap at most Juice Press locations in the New York Tri-State area.  2022 continues to be a strong year for Daring, which has expanded its innovative chicken products to thousands of new retail and food service locations. In June, the brand added Plant Chicken Tenders to its line, and launched the refrigerated product into the meat departments of 400 retailers, including Sprouts, Erewhon and New Seasons. Weeks later, Daring announced a …

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Southr fried Buffalo ramen Wicked Kitchen

©Wicked Kitchen

Peer Reviewed Paper Proves Plant-Based Meat is Healthier and More Sustainable than Animal Products

Following a slew of biased articles in the mainstream press deeming meat alternatives as ultra-processed and unhealthy, a brand new peer-reviewed paper published just yesterday in the Future Foods journal finds that, in fact, plant-based meat is healthier and more sustainable than animal products. Speaking to vegconomist today, the paper’s author, Dr Chris Bryant of the University of Bath, said of the findings: “As well as favourable nutritional profiles, plant-based animal product alternatives have benefits for weight loss, muscle synthesis, gut health, and specific health conditions. Moreover, there are clear benefits over animal products in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, and a range of other environmental outcomes.” A more effective way of reducing demand for meat and dairy Bryant reviewed empirical …

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Myprotein Perfect Day Animal-Free Whey Powder

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Myprotein and Perfect Day Launch ‘Whey Forward’ Dairy-Identical Performance Protein Powder

Myprotein, the world’s leading online sports nutrition brand, has partnered with startup Perfect Day to launch Whey Forward – a “no-compromise” performance protein powder made with animal-free dairy. Developed with Perfect Day’s precision fermentation, Whey Forward is a ready-to-mix product that offers the same taste and nutrition as whey found in cow’s milk, but with no lactose and a significantly reduced environmental impact. With 20 grams of protein per serving, Whey Forward also matches the nutritional needs of Impact Whey, Myprotein’s award-winning traditional whey protein powder. Whey Forward is available in three serving sizes and flavors: Creamy Mint Chocolate Chip, Rich Salted Caramel and Decadent Chocolate Brown. “With Whey Forward, we are removing a barrier to make it even easier for people to find a protein that best …

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Amara Organic Foods

©Amara Organic Foods

Over Half of Parents Want to See Their Children Eat More Plant Proteins

A survey conducted by baby food company Gerber has found that 55% of new parents in the US want to see their children eat more plant proteins. Additionally, two-thirds of parents would like their infants to try new foods, but 55% said they found it difficult to come up with flavourful, nutritious meals. The child’s preferences, lack of knowledge about nutrition, and cost were cited as the main challenges. A huge 83% of respondents were worried that their children weren’t getting enough nutrients due to picky eating, while over half (55%) said they had a child who was reluctant to try new foods. Despite these challenges, parents said their children ate five meals per week containing plant-based proteins. 39% had given their children alt-protein products, …

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Super Nooch Notorious Nooch Co

©Notorious Nooch Co

Global Market for Nooch to Soar to Almost $1Billion

Nutritional yeast, known colloquially as nooch, has reached a global market size of  $428.1 million according to a new report, and is set to more than double in the next ten years, reaching almost a billion, at US$999.5 million. Nutritional yeast, an inactivated yeast usually made from saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been widely used by vegans as a cheese replacement, for added umami flavour or use in sauces. Nooch offers several potential health benefits, ranging from lower cholesterol to protein from cellular damage, and contains high amounts of vitamin B12, often lacking in the plant-based diet. Nooch in the mainstream Countless brands around the world are producing nooch in flake format to be sprinkled on pastas, salads, or any food as a parmesan-style alternative. One of …

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