Society: Latest News 2023 - vegconomist: the vegan business magazine

Two brown cows/ cattle

© Mosa Meat

Animal Rights Switzerland Sets Out Vision to Make the Country Vegan

June 9, 2023

Campaign group Animal Rights Switzerland has launched a project outlining how the country could become animal-friendly. The group describes how meat and dairy products could be produced through cultivation and fermentation technologies, removing the need for animal agriculture. Slaughterhouses could then be repurposed, or turned into museums. Recreational fishermen could remove litter from rivers rather than catching fish, or focus on monitoring and photographing aquatic life. Contraceptives could be used to prevent wild animals such as deer from becoming overpopulated, removing the need for hunting. To make clothing, leather and petroleum-derived materials would be replaced with alternatives such as mushroom or apple leather, and plant-based alternatives to wool would also be used. Animal protection laws would be updated to totally forbid harming and killing animals. …

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Animal Rights Switzerland

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter ©Meati

Meati Foods Welcomes Baseball Legend Derek Jeter to its Roster of Celebrity Investors

June 8, 2023June 8, 2023

Colorado’s Meati Foods, a producer of animal-free meat made from mycelium, announces that baseball legend Derek Jeter has joined the company as an investor and advisor. “When it came to considering an investment in this industry, I had three main priorities in evaluating the food: nutrition, sustainability, and taste,” comments Jeter. Meati Foods made its retail debut at Sprouts in March 2023 after a year of DTC record sellouts. The brand’s alt meat, which claims to be clean-label, nutritious, and sustainable whole food, is made with 95% mushroom root providing complete protein, fiber, and minerals. “An investment from Derek, one of the greatest athletes of all time, is a huge validation of our food. Very few people are as discriminating about the quality of food that …

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Group of demonstrators on road, young people fight for climate change - Global warming and enviroment concept - Focus on banner

© DisobeyArt

Call to Action: Prioritise Funding for Alt Protein Over Livestock Production to Drive Change

June 5, 2023

The EU’s agricultural promotion policy must focus more on healthy plant-based diets. Instead, it provides more funding for the livestock sector, which pollutes and depletes waterways, and is responsible for 17% of carbon emissions of the region, said Falk Hemsing, international policy officer at ProVeg and co-author of a report recently published by the Smart Protein project. To address the climate crisis, the EU should promote alternative proteins and encourage Europeans to switch towards plant-based diets, argues ProVeg International. “Animal agriculture also contributes to lifestyle diseases, global hunger, and animal suffering so replacing animal products with plant-based and cultivated foods offers the EU a multi-pronged solution to these problems,” adds Juliette Tronchon, senior policy and public affairs specialist at ProVeg and also co-author of the report. …

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Rapper NLE Choppa, cofounder of Eat Virgin

©Eat Virgin

Meet Eat Virgin: An Optimum Wellness Bar Backed by Platinum Vegan Rapper NLE Choppa

June 5, 2023June 2, 2023

While the snack market offers plenty of plant-based bars for a protein or sugar fix, there are few options for a bar made entirely from whole-food ingredients with minimal processing. Eat Virgin Meal Bars, launched by founders LA Rice, Natasha Pestano Rice and platinum-selling rapper NLE Choppa, was created to provide more than a snack – its bars are meant to be enjoyed as full, nutritious meals without compromising on taste or time. According to the founders, Eat Virgin makes it easy to consume a nourishing, plant-based meal made with organic, raw ingredients. Its bars contain over 17 vitamins and minerals, and are available in three flavors: Cherry x Chocolate – A grain-free mix of tart cherries and chocolate, plus dates, quinoa, hemp seeds, goji …

Supermarket shelves with alt milk courtesy ProVeg

Image courtesy ProVeg

Tear Up the Draft! Says PBFA UK Regarding Absurd Labelling Proposals

May 25, 2023

Draft guidance that would restrict the labelling of plant-based products in the UK should be torn up, says the Plant-based Food Alliance UK today. If the proposal comes to pass, it could lead to numerous products being pulled from supermarket shelves around the country. Not only do the proposals put countless UK businesses at risk, but the guidelines also contradict efforts by the UK government to make society more sustainable, since the production and consumption of plant-based foods emits half the amount of greenhouse gases as animal-based foods. Ad hoc and unaccountable Drafted in February 2022 by the Food Standards and Information Focus Group (FSIFG), an ad hoc and unaccountable group of trading standards officials, the proposal suggests that phrases such as “mylk”, “m*lk” , …

abillion vegan app

© abillion

abillion Celebrates Fifth Anniversary, Surpassing $2.8M in Donations & 1M Downloads

May 24, 2023

Sustainability platform abillion is celebrating its five-year anniversary, along with the achievement of a number of significant milestones. The abillion app has now been downloaded a million times, while the company has broken records by donating over $2.8 million to global impact partners in more than 180 countries worldwide. These donations have helped to create impact for animals, children, and the environment. abillion has also raised over $17 million of investment since its inception, recently closing its first ever community investment round where 290 members worldwide invested over $500,000. The company has grown by 20 times over the past two years. “At abillion, we’re working to inspire people to discover purpose and values through the things all of us do every day,” says founder and …

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Sponsored

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Sqn Ldr Foxen MOD Veg Network

Sqn Ldr Foxen MOD Veg Network, image courtesy Veganuary

ESS Partners With MOD Vegan & Vegetarian Network to Provide Plant-Based Food to UK Armed Forces

May 22, 2023

Support services provider ESS has announced a collaboration with the MOD Vegan & Vegetarian Network to help members of the Armed Forces follow a plant-based diet. The Network is a community connecting vegetarians and vegans across the military services, along with providing support to help them maintain their lifestyles. ESS provides soft facilities services to 250 military establishments UK-wide, and is already working to offer more plant-based options and less meat on its menus. 27% of the company’s core menu is currently vegetarian or vegan, while a further 30% of dishes are plant-forward (meaning at least 30% of the meat has been replaced with plants). The new partnership will help to further increase these options. “Working with ESS is part of providing a positive ethical, …

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MOD Vegan & Vegetarian Network

Coconut and almond - Endangered Species lifestyle

© EDC

Endangered Species Chocolate Celebrates 30 Years, Makes 30 Donations to Charities Protecting Earth’s Species & Habitats

May 19, 2023

Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC) of Indianapolis is celebrating 30 years of business by making 30 donations to charities that seek to protect Earth’s species and habitats. ESC reports that since 2016 it has contributed over $3.1 million to its partners globally, giving 10% of annual net profits to impactful organizations. The majority of the brand’s portfolio of 46 products is vegan (note that there are some milk chocolate products in the range so be aware when purchasing) and includes a range of oat milk chocolate bars, 3 oz. chocolate bars, single-serve grab-n-go bars, and baking chips. Throughout 2023, ESC will provide monetary donations to charities including SEE Turtles, One Tree Planted, and Saving The Blue. Previous donations include the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund, Xerces Foundation, …

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Endangered Species

Image: nyc.gov

NYC Launches “Eat A Whole Lot More Plants” Campaign to Promote Healthy Eating

May 17, 2023

A new campaign called “Eat A Whole Lot More Plants” has launched in New York City to encourage citizens to adopt a healthy, balanced diet. Ads for the campaign will run on television, radio, subways, NYCLink, outdoor media, and digital channels. The ads will explain the benefits of whole plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts, highlighting their nutrient density and lack of sodium, added sugar, or unhealthy fats. There will also be an emphasis on the role of plant-based foods in preventing chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. The campaign will explore simple swaps such as replacing meat with beans, and will suggest culturally diverse plant-based meals. Advice and support will be provided to those …

Vegan Fast Food on Table

©Hart House

Kevin Hart to Open “Hart House” Drive Thru in LA, While Slutty Vegan Prepares to Launch First Texas Location

May 15, 2023

This month, two of the biggest-trending names in fast food – Kevin Hart’s Hart House and Pinky Cole’s Slutty Vegan – are expanding their brands with breakthrough launches in California and Texas. In Los Angeles, superstar actor and comedian Kevin Hart is preparing to open two new locations of Hart House – an all-vegan concept he launched in 2022. Opening May 23, the first of these (and third overall) is located on the famed Sunset Boulevard, where it reportedly replaces a former McDonald’s and will feature the brand’s first-ever drive-thru. Inside, Hart House Hollywood offers a 2,130 sq ft space with 24 interior seats and 16 outdoor seats. The menu, originally created with a former Burger King chef, will feature Hart House’s curated plant-based sandwiches …

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ProVeg NFH

Image: ProVeg International

Use Veggie Challenge to Drive Plant-Based Sales

May 15, 2023

In the last few years, meat-free campaigns have proven to be one of the most effective ways to attract flexitarian consumers to plant-based eating. They’re seen as a fun way for consumers to try out novel foods as well as a means to challenge themselves and do something ‘good’ for their health, the planet, and animals. Challenges offer an ideal opportunity for businesses to tap into a demographic of first-time samplers who might be averse to purchasing plant-based products at other times of the year. They also offer businesses the perfect opportunity to further engage existing customers and drive sales even higher. In their recent informational, ProVeg International highlights some of the most successful meat-free challenges around the world and uncovers the best ways for businesses …

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Plant-Based Bahn Mi Salad

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine/Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines Expands Vegan Meal Options with JUST Egg Frittata, Chili and More

May 11, 2023

Alaska Airlines, America’s fifth-largest air carrier, announces it is adding a larger variety of plant-based meal options to its First Class menus, including a JUST Egg Frittata, Tofu Wrap, and White Bean Chili, along with a new salad. Available through pre-order, the new menu selections are available on all First Class meal service flights and include: A Harissa and Chorizo Frittata made with JUST Egg Spicy Tofu Wrap White Bean Chili with Grilled Polenta Stand Bahn Mi Salad w/ Tofu In addition to the latest offerings, Alaska also introduced several other fully plant-based options last year: The “Soy Meets World” Salad and Healthy Resolutions Vegan Salad, both developed in partnership with Evergreen. Beyond salad Across the world, more airlines are increasingly expanding vegan meal options …

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Alaska Airlines

ProVeg NFH

Image: ProVeg International

Europe Needs Alternative Protein Innovators

May 8, 2023

This Europe Day (9th May 2023), ProVeg International and the EU-funded Smart Protein Project are raising awareness of the need for sustainable food production in our changing world. Europe Day marks the anniversary of the historic Schuman Declaration, which set out revolutionary minister Robert Schuman’s idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe. This ultimately led to the creation of today’s European Union. Essentially, the anniversary represents peace and prosperity across Europe – a harmony that could be threatened by growing global crises, like pandemics, weather extremes, dwindling planetary natural resources, and food insecurities. In its recent New Food Hub article, ProVeg International focuses on Europe Day to highlight the potential for alternative proteins within Europe and the further world. Alt-proteins made from …

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Oatly Parterns with SWISS airlines to offer its vegan Caffè Latte

© Oatly

Oatly’s First Global Airline Partnership Brings Vegan Caffè Lattes to SWISS Passengers

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023

Oat drink company Oatly has teamed up with Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) to offer a vegan coffee drink, Oatly Caffè Latte, onboard all flights. The partnership marks the first global airline collaboration for Oatly and expands SWISS’ beverage range to include plant-based products. Belonging to the on-the-go category, Oatly Caffè Latte is soy and nut-free, made with Oatly’s organic oat milk and 100% Fair Trade certified Arabica bean coffee extract. Major milestone Helge Weitz, GM at Oatly DACH and Poland, said: “Today’s collaboration with SWISS is a major milestone for Oatly and our mission to put our products everywhere to make people’s switch to plant-based as easy as possible – even at 10,000 meters in the air.” Oatly, which claims to be the world’s …

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Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS)

Stirling University student's union goes plant-based

© Animal Rebellion

Universities Increasingly Join Plant-Based Movement in a “Victory for the Climate”

April 27, 2023April 25, 2023

Many UK universities have passed motions to join the plant-based movement by switching to 100% plant-based options or reducing the animal-derived foods offered at their cafeterias, reports Animal Aid. These initiatives are in response to the student-led Plant-Based Universities campaign (PBU). Using the phrase “Plant-based universities, end the climate crisis”, the campaign encourages higher education institutes to remove animal products from their menus to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. UK universities at the forefront The following universities have adopted vegan catering or reduced the sale of animal products: Recently, The University of Birmingham voted in favour of a motion to have 60% plant-based catering by the next academic year, with a 10% increase each year until all meals become 100% animal-free. In March, Queen Mary …

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Plant-Based Universities