Dutch brands make half of recipes on packaging meat-free

© Jumbo

Seven Dutch Brands Agree to Make 50% of Recipes on Their Packaging Meat-Free

Following campaigning by animal rights group Wakker Dier, seven brands in the Netherlands — Conimex, Fairtrade Original, Jumbo, Knorr, Koh Tai, Patak’s, and Plus — have agreed to make 50% of the suggested recipes on their product packaging meat-free. Another two major brands — Grand’Italia and Lassie — already feature 50% vegetarian or vegan recipes, while Albert Heijn and Maggi have pledged to add plant-based tips to their packaging but not to remove meat from half of recipes. Just one of the brands approached, Honig, said it would not make any changes. After analysing 657 recipes on product packaging, Wakker Dier found that over 80% currently feature meat or fish. The group points out that the Health Council of the Netherlands recommends eating 60% plant-based …

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Sodexo - Chesapeake Mini-Cakes

Chesapeake Mini-Cakes © Sodexo

Sodexo Makes Plant-Based Meals the Norm in US Campus Restaurants

Sodexo USA recently announced that it has massively expanded the use of the DefaultVeg strategy in university dining halls. This strategy, which was first piloted by Sodexo in collaboration with the Better Food Foundation and the Food for Climate League in university canteens with all-you-can-eat offerings, uses behavioral incentives to encourage a plant-based dietary change. The expansion of offerings coincides with the publication of a recent peer-reviewed study conducted in Sodexo-operated dining halls, which concluded that offering plant-based meals as a standard may preserve students’ freedom of choice while encouraging them to choose these meals more often. The study, authored by Boston College researchers Joel Ginn and Gregg Sparkman, was published in the February issue of the Journal of Environmental Psychology and was conducted by …

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ProVeg Czechia launches plant-based innovation course

Image: Nick Morrison on Unsplash

ProVeg Czechia Launches Course to Boost Plant-Based Innovation

ProVeg Czechia has introduced a new course that aims to support plant-based innovation, contributing to the development of higher-quality plant-based alternatives in the Czech and Slovak markets. The course discusses innovative production processes, consumer needs, current trends, and nutrition. It also addresses the labelling of plant-based products, and includes inspiring case studies. Food industry professionals, along with those studying alternative proteins or interested in entering the field, are invited to enroll in the course. It will be delivered online during June and July. “The ongoing developments in the sector are a clear sign that alternative protein isn’t just a passing trend but a robust movement with a promising future,” said Veronika Baťová, Project Manager and course organiser at ProVeg Czechia. “A growing number of consumers …

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View of the Harvard University's Campus in Cambridge, Mass

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Harvard Initiative ‘Food 4 Thought’ Gathers Students in 3 Day Event to Address Meat Consumption

Harvard University will be the epicenter of a global student gathering aimed at reshaping the world’s food system to be more sustainable, equitable, and healthy. Scheduled from April 12th to 14th 2024, the inaugural three-day event, titled Food 4 Thought, is organized by students with a mission to address the pressing challenges posed by the current food consumption patterns, particularly the escalating consumption of meat. Motivated by the urgent need to ease the growing pressure on nature and public health caused by increasing meat consumption, Food 4 Thought aims to bring together the most talented individuals from various fields to imagine a food system for the future that is both compassionate and environmentally friendly. Strategies for transformative action Navin Durbhakula, a Harvard student and the …

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UK's first vegan theatre to open in Canterbury

Image: The Garlinge Theatre on Facebook

“UK’s First Vegan Theatre” to Open Near Canterbury, Kent

A cooperative is set to open what is claimed to be the UK’s first vegan theatre on an organic farm near the town of Canterbury, Kent. Only vegan foods and beverages will be permitted in the Garlinge Theatre, which has a capacity of 300. This rule will also apply to anyone who hires the venue. The first productions will take place in the theatre next month. The building was previously a Steiner school, which closed last year after problems were discovered during an inspection. However, a new Steiner-inspired school will now open on part of the site. The school, Light Root’s Home Education, is part of the cooperative that has taken over the building, alongside actress Alison Harris and Swale councillor Terry Thompson. A fundraising …

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Semana sin carne

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More Than 32,000 People Join Spain’s Meat-Free Week Semana Sin Carne

On the occasion of World Meatless Day, which is on March 20, ProVeg has announced the seventh edition of Semana Sin Carne (Meat-free Week), a 7-day challenge to encourage the population to adopt a more plant-based diet and give the health of our planet a break. The seven-day challenge will begin next Monday, March 18 and all interested people will be able to live a different plant experience each day of the challenge. Every day you will be provided with a daily menu, exclusive vegan recipes, nutritional tables, comparisons or nutritional advice and support, among many other things. Eating plant-based saves money The organization states that “a more plant-based diet will make you save on the shopping cart,” which, in turn, is in line with …

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Korea vegan food tour

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Korea Tourism Organization Launches Nine-Day Vegan Food Tour

The Korea Tourism Organization has organized the country’s first ever vegan food tour, after seeing a significant increase in the number of people adopting a vegan lifestyle. The tour is nine days long and includes stops in major cities such as Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island. Participants will be able to sample traditional plant-based Korean dishes at restaurants and cooking classes; they will also learn about the country’s history and culture through activities such as meditating at a temple, visiting an apple farm, and exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites. The tour will be operated by Green Earth Travel, which also offers vegan tours in areas such as Cambodia, Nepal, and Bali. It will take place for the first time in September 2024. “South Korea has …

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Pamela Anderson joins vegan skincare brand Sonsie Skin

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Pamela Anderson Joins Vegan Skincare Brand Sonsie Skin as Owner & Co-Founder

Actress Pamela Anderson has acquired vegan skincare brand Sonsie Skin, and will now join the company as co-founder. Anderson is a longtime vegan, known for her animal rights activism and partnerships with vegan brands. Last year, she attracted attention by attending a fashion show without makeup, and has continued to make appearances barefaced ever since. She is now taking a new approach to beauty, focusing on skin health and self-acceptance rather than perfection. The aim is to inspire consumers who feel pressured by social norms to “embrace their most vulnerable self”. “To me, true beauty is about celebrating authenticity. I want to look like myself, feel like myself, and that means taking care of myself — inside and out,” said Anderson. Minimalist skincare Sonsie Skin …

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Hungry Planet crab cakes

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Hungry Planet Among 65 Global Plant-Based Organizations Nominated for Earthshot Prize

Hungry Planet Foods announces that it has officially been nominated for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, a global initiative that seeks to discover, celebrate, and scale innovative solutions that address the planet’s biggest environmental challenges by 2030.  The company creates plant-based meat alternatives, such as beef, chicken, pork, and crab, using ingredients like textured wheat protein, soy protein, and other plant ingredients. Hungry Planet states that its products are now served at thousands of food service venues across the US, including fine dining, fast casual, universities, and hospitals, along with various retail outlets and online via PlantX. Through its philanthropic arm, the company has also helped provide over 1 million meals to school children K-12. The Earthshot Prize, established in 2020 by Prince William and The …

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SWISS airlines serving EggField vegan eggs

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Alt Eggs from Aquafaba Created by Zurich Startup EggField Now Available to SWISS Air Passengers

EggField, a Zurich startup for plant-based egg alternatives, is enjoying its first successes in in-flight catering thanks to its collaboration with Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and Hiltl restaurant. Thanks to the new partnership with EggField and Hiltl, SWISS business passengers have been able to find additional sustainable menu items, including the plant-based pumpkin and chestnut goulash with spaetzli, on the boarding menu since the beginning of 2024. The spaetzli are made entirely without eggs. This has been ensured by Hiltl, which, as a vegetarian pioneer, has been creating meat-free dishes for SWISS travelers since 2009. Hiltl has been using the natural egg alternatives made from aquafaba from EggField since 2020 and has thus been able to develop its spaetzli without animal eggs. The EggField …

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Impossible X US Army

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Impossible Foods Partners with US Army Central to Serve Plant-Based Options to Overseas Troops

Impossible Foods has announced a milestone in its partnership with the US military, with the US Army Central now poised to introduce Impossible’s plant-based meat products into its dining facilities overseas in the coming weeks. Impossible explains to vegconomist that the initiative comes as a result of the growing demand for more plant-based meal options across the military. The products have been available in various military food operations for the last few years, says a representative, for example at Walter Reed Medical Center, which the company says indicates a gradual shift towards more diverse dietary offerings within the armed forces. However, this is the first time Impossible has worked directly with the US Army Central to serve its products in various military dining facilities, as …

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Vegetarianos Hoy vegan certified

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More Than 50 Companies in LATAM Joined the V-Label Certification Scheme in 2023

Fundación Veg, previously known as Fundación Vegetarianos Hoy, has announced that by the end of 2023, a total of 170 companies and 1,900 products had obtained a V-Label certification in Latin America. Through this program, the foundation encourages companies to include vegan products within sustainability strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of food production. From Mexico to Chile, 164 companies of different brands and product varieties have achieved V-Label certification. In the words of the director of the Veg Foundation, Ignacia Uribe, “Among the companies that have entrusted their certification to the Foundation we have names of multinationals such as Nestlé, Bimbo, Concha y Toro, and Masglo, among others, but we also have local enterprises that even have certified artisanal products, such as the case …

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Veganuary participants

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Veganuary 2024 Supports Over 1.8 Million Participants Worldwide to Try Veganism

With Veganuary 2024 having recently come to a close, the organization has revealed that over 1.8 million people received its support and guidance to try veganism, in the form of emails, videos, social media posts, and podcasts. Many also purchased Veganuary products, such as the charity’s cookbook and Vegan Kit card deck. Veganuary has calculated that the actual number of participants is likely to be even higher than the figures indicate, as many people take part without officially signing up. To gain an estimate of the true number, the organization has commissioned YouGov surveys in its core campaign countries. The results suggest that the total number of participants could be as high as 25 million. Awareness of Veganuary also continues to grow, with 75% of …

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Sandra Hungate of Veganuary US

Sandra Hungate. © Veganuary US

Veganuary US: “We Have Participants in All 50 States, Interest is No Longer Confined to Cities Like New York and LA”

Since starting out in the UK ten years ago, Veganuary has surged in popularity worldwide — particularly in the US, where the campaign is now taking place for the fifth time. The country has the highest number of participants of any nation, and over 400 American businesses took part last year. In 2024, a variety of restaurants are offering Veganuary menus, with new options such as pizzas, salads, and sandwiches. With a significant proportion of participants remaining plant-based for good after taking part in the challenge, Veganuary is driving a meaningful shift in dietary patterns, prompting many food service outlets to continue offering vegan dishes after the month is over. Veganuary US Director Sandra Hungate told us more about this incredible momentum and the highlights …

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amsterdam

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Amsterdam Becomes First EU Capital to Endorse Global Plant Based Treaty

Amsterdam has become the first capital city in the EU to endorse calls for a global Plant Based Treaty, which proposes addressing the impact of the food system on climate change by shifting towards a more plant-based diet. In a statement, the City of Amsterdam Council acknowledged that the food system has “a significant impact on the health of people and animals and contributes to the climate crisis”. It has set out plans to shift the protein ratio in the city’s diet from 40 to 60 percent plant-based by 2030, saying that the municipality “takes responsibility to drive changes in the food system, ensuring that all residents of Amsterdam have access to healthy, fair, sustainable, and affordable food and drinks”. The council has also adopted …

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Image courtesy of ProVeg International

Serving Plant-Based Success on School Plates: Interview with ProVeg UK’s School Plates Programme

“We started in 2018 with one local authority partner in the UK. Six years on we’re working with a quarter of all the local authorities in the UK. That’s about 6,300 schools, over a million meals a day that we’re influencing, and over 12 million meals that we’ve swapped from meat-based to plant-based. So it seems to be working,” says Colette Fox, Head of Programme at ProVeg UK’s School Plates programme. The School Plates programme, run by the UK branch of international food awareness NGO, ProVeg International, has had some striking success. Harnessing the power of behavioural nudges (and, of course, delicious plant-based food), the team is making a big impact in school canteens across the United Kingdom. The scheme is continuing to grow, with …

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British Airways offers Glebe Farm oat milk on long-haul flights

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British Airways to Offer Glebe Farm Oat Milk on All Long-Haul Flights

British Airways has announced that it will begin offering plant-based milk as an option on board its long-haul flights. The carrier has chosen oat milk made by UK brand Glebe Farm, which grows its own gluten-free oats in Cambridgeshire. In 2022, Glebe Farm told vegconomist that it hoped to “redefine the UK oat milk market”, encouraging a shift away from imported products. While the oat milk will soon be available on flights, British Airways warns that supply may initially be limited until the rollout is complete. The airline also offers a vegan inflight meal, though this must be ordered 24 hours in advance of the flight’s departure. In 2022, British Airways began offering a range of plant-based meals in first-class and business-class airport lounges as …

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The Green REV Institute, calls on EU decision-makers to prioritize the well-being of citizens and public health above the interests of the meat industry.

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Plant-Based Labels: The Green REV Institute Urges EU Decision Makers to Prioritize Public Health Over Meat Industry Interests

The Green REV Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on farming, food, and animal welfare, has submitted a document to the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) urging EU decision-makers to prioritize the well-being of citizens and public health above the interests of the meat industry. The submission comes in response to Italy’s controversial bills banning animal product names on plant-based meat labels. Through TRIS, the European Commission and member states review draft laws to assess their compliance with EU regulations due to the potential impact of such prohibitions on the region’s market. The right to information and health The Green REV Institute emphasizes that consumers have the right to information and health, as guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The organization argues …

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Impossible Burger School Lunch

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Florida School District Introduces Impossible Burgers and Meat-Free Nuggets in Plant-Based Menu Update

Manatee County School District in Florida has recently introduced plant-based lunch options in several of its schools. As reported by Your Observer, this initiative encompasses two high schools and three middle schools, where students now have access to plant-based items such as Impossible Burgers and plant-based chicken nuggets. The schools involved in this rollout include Mona Jain Middle, R. Dan Nolan, Buffalo Creek middle schools, as well as Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, and Parrish Community High Schools as part of the district’s goal to stay current with food trends and address the growing interest in plant-based diets among students. Skye Grundy, a registered dietitian and supervisor of student nutrition for the School District of Manatee County, emphasized the importance of meeting student demands and staying …

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Vegan Society of Ireland

© Vegan Society of Ireland

Vegetarian Society of Ireland Renamed to Vegan Society of Ireland Following Unanimous Vote

Over 40 years after it was founded, The Vegetarian Society of Ireland has become The Vegan Society of Ireland after members unanimously voted in favour of the change. The organisation, which is a registered charity, said that most members were already vegan and interest had dwindled, indicating that a rebrand was needed. However, vegetarians are still welcome to join, and all members can benefit from a number of discounts. The Vegan Society of Ireland plans to raise awareness of veganism in Ireland by running campaigns and events, along with gaining media exposure. The group already has 50 volunteers, and expects to gain more following the transition. “I’m absolutely delighted that we have finally reached the stage where we are about to launch the Vegan Society …

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