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USDA Nutrition Program for Low-Income Women and Children Now Features Plant-Based Dairy

April 16, 2024April 10, 2024

The Biden-Harris Administration, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), has announced significant updates to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), notably including the incorporation of plant-based yogurts and cheeses. The revisions, grounded in the latest scientific recommendations from both the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2020-2025, aim to enhance nutrition security and maternal and child health while providing increased flexibility for participants. The WIC program helps ensure good health for low-income pregnant women, new mothers, breastfeeding mothers, and children up to age five by providing food packages, vouchers, and nutritional education. The program reaches a significant portion of American families with young …

Market & Trends

Germany: Half of Consumers Now Flexitarian, Vegan Population Reaches 1.5M

January 31, 2023

A report by the USDA has found that over half (55%) of Germans now consider themselves flexitarian after reducing their meat consumption. The country’s vegan population has also risen, reaching 1.5 million last year. Titled Plant-Based Food Goes Mainstream in Germany, the report notes that the latter figure is up from just 0.1 million ten years ago. Meat consumption also plummeted in the intervening time, down from 138 pounds per person per year in 2011 to 121 pounds in 2021. Per capita cow’s milk consumption fell 5% in a single year between 2020 and 2021, as milk alternatives grew in popularity. The report suggests that these changes are mostly driven by young people, with many also convincing their parents to make the switch. German politicians …

Topics:

Veganism

Image: US Department of Human Health and Services

Society

Proposed Updates to the USDA’s WIC Nutrition Program Would Add More Plant-Based Milk, Yogurt and Cheese Options

September 11, 2023December 22, 2022

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to add more dairy-free products, including milk, cheese and yogurt, to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Under the proposed changes through the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, millions of mothers and children would receive access to more dairy-free foods as well as increased provisions for fruits and vegetables. WIC is an assistance program that aims to safeguard the health of low-income women and infants under the age of 5. Designed to fill in nutrition gaps, the program provides free vouchers for foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, eggs and cheese. Currently, the only dairy-free alternative the program currently allows for is soymilk. Through the proposed revisions, WIC would expand …

Topics:

Child Food

President Biden Issues Executive Order Supporting the Advancement of Cultured Meat

September 14, 2022

This week, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at advancing US leadership in biotechnology and biomanufacturing, which includes exploring new innovations in the agricultural sector, and specifically mentions the advancement of alternative proteins. In the order, Biden directs the heads of relevant government agencies to submit reports assessing diverse fields of biotechnology within 180 days to explore their potential impact on medicine, climate change, and food production. Regarding agriculture it reads: “The Secretary of Agriculture… shall submit a report assessing how to use biotechnology and biomanufacturing for food and agriculture innovation, including by improving sustainability and land conservation; increasing food quality and nutrition; increasing and protecting agricultural yields; protecting against plant and animal pests and diseases; and cultivating alternative food sources.” Growing a “bioeconomy” …

Topics:

President Biden

US government

©Mission Barns

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Mission Barns: Cultivated Meat Products Ready for Market Launch Pending Regulatory Approval

June 15, 2022

US food tech Mission Barns has unveiled its new headquarters and cultivated fat production plant, claiming to be fully prepared to hit the market with its cultivated fat products. However, the San Francisco-based company must first wait for regulatory approval from the USDA and FDA before it can finally sell its cultivated fat and plant-based protein food products. Focusing on hybrid products of plant-based ingredients and animal fat cultivated from cells, Mission Barns is one of a growing group of companies, consumers, and investors who believe these hybrid products present the most sustainable and appealing future of alt meat. Mission Barns CEO Eitan Fischer is confident the regulatory green light will come soon, according to a report from Food Dive. Fischer, a former director of …

Topics:

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Cell Cultured US Market Entry Edges Closer as USDA Seeks Comments on Labeling

September 15, 2021September 15, 2021

The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) with regards to cell-cultured labeling of meat and poultry products. The ANPR will solicit comments and information on labeling and the FSIS will use these comments to inform future regulatory requirements. “We want to hear from stakeholders and will consider their comments as we work on a proposed regulation for labeling these products” – USDA The ANPR requests comment on specific topics to be considered during regulatory approval on labeling of cell-cultured meat and poultry products. Topics include; consumer expectations on nutritional composition and organoleptic qualities, naming of products that are neither false nor misleading, economic data, and any consumer research related to labeling …

Topics:

Labeling

regulatory approval

Revised USDA Food Label Guidance Continues to Promote Consumer Deception

March 8, 2021January 8, 2020

Following the release of an updated food labeling guidance document on Dec. 27, the Animal Welfare Institute says it is appalled that the US Department of Agriculture continues to permit producers to mislead the public with confusing and unsubstantiated animal raising claims on meat and poultry packages.

Topics:

Animal Welfare

Labeling

Society

USDA and FDA Announce a Formal Agreement to Regulate Cell-Cultured Food Products from Cell Lines of Livestock and Poultry

April 25, 2021March 9, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a formal agreement to jointly oversee the production of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry.

Topics:

government regulations

Society

Memphis Meat and NAMI Ask Trump to Regulate Labelling of Laboratory Meat

September 13, 2018

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and cell-based meat developer Memphis Meats have jointly written a letter to President Trump asking for help in clarifying the regulatory framework for cell-based meat and poultry products. They are calling on the Trump administration to regulate the US protein industry. “Cell-based meat products are meat produced from animal cells in cell cultures. They are an “and”, not an “or” solution, and the latest in a long history of innovation in American agriculture,” the letter says. “In recognition of the common desire to support innovation and feed the world, we will in future use the term “cell-based meat and poultry” to describe products that are the result of animal cell culture.” Uma Valeti, CEO of the Memphis Meats start-up, …

Topics:

trump

“Good Food Conference” to Accelerate the Marketing of Clean Meat

September 6, 2018August 14, 2018

From September 6-7 2018, the Good Food Conference will take place, focusing on accelerating the marketing of alternative meat products such as plant-based meat and laboratory meat. The event, which will be at the Clark Kerr Campus Conference Center, Berkeley, is already sold out, but you can sign up for the livestream. It is the first of its kind in the world at which the world’s leading scientists, entrepreneurs, politicians and investors will address this topic. “We are gathering the pioneers of a new meat revolution that could solve some of the world’s biggest problems, from climate change to antimicrobial resistance,” announced Bruce Friedrich, CEO of the Good Food Institute. “We have the technology and the will, and now we are accelerating this change through …

Society

Clean Meat Should be Backed by US Government

October 22, 2018June 20, 2018

The Israeli start-up Aleph Farms, developer and producer of “Clean Meat” (laboratory meat), recently called on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support and promote Clean Meat. The company points out the advantages of the product when compared with conventional meat products, especially in the area of food safety.

Topics:

US government

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information for decision-makers