EatDifferently Dairy Campaign

© Eat Differently

Marketing & Media

Eat Differently Launches Huge Billboard Campaign Across LA Exposing Falsehoods Peddled by Dairy Industry

A new campaign by Eat Differently, a public service resource encouraging plant-based eating, is challenging long-held consumer beliefs about the dairy industry. Titled “Got My Mom’s Milk? I Didn’t,” the campaign seeks to expose the often glossed-over realities of dairy cows and their calves and foster a broader understanding of dairy production practices.  With over 20 billboards strategically placed in key locations around Los Angeles, including the highly trafficked 405 Freeway, the Hollywood and Highland intersection, and near the Los Angeles International Airport, the campaign is anticipated to have high visibility.  Lori Amos, founder of Scout 22, an advertising agency working with Eat Differently, articulated the campaign’s core message: “The messaging featured in this campaign negates the falsehoods that have been peddled by the dairy …

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Los Angeles

© Olenka Kotyk on Unsplash

Politics & Law

Los Angeles County Implements Plant-Based Food Policy to Tackle Environmental and Health Concerns

Los Angeles County has enacted a new plant-based policy addressing environmental, public health, and animal welfare concerns. The legislation, initiated by supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Hilda L. Solis, mandates a comprehensive shift towards plant-based food in the county’s food service provider contracts. Mercy For Animals worked closely with Horvath’s office to develop the policy, which encompasses Health Services, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works departments and includes updates to nutritional standards, recommendations for plant-based procurement, and tracking greenhouse gas emissions. Leah Garces, president at Mercy for Animals, announced the development on social media:  “We at MFA call for enactment and enforcement of animal protection laws and a shift to a plant-based food system. As more Americans choose plant-based food for health, environmental protection, and animal …

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Vegan Women Summit

© Vegan Women Summit

Fairs & Events

The Vegan Women Summit Returns to Hollywood Showcasing Female Leadership in Vegan Business

The Vegan Women Summit (VWS) is returning for its 4th year, scheduled for May 9 and 10, 2024, at the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood. The summit is a global event that brings together women leaders in vegan business, featuring speakers, panels, and networking opportunities with potential partners, mentors, and investors. VWS has released an impressive roster of celebrity speakers for this year’s event, which includes actress Richa Moorjani, philanthropist Maggie Baird (mother of musician Billie Eilish), model and reality TV star Jayde Nicole and Heather Mills, a Paralympian and the owner of VBites. Mills is poised to share the inspiring journey of VBites, which she recently reacquired after the company entered administration at the end of last year. Joanne Molinaro, The Korean Vegan, and …

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Billie Eilish and Finneas

Image: @billieeilish on Instagram

Food Service

Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell Set to Open Vegan Italian Eatery, Argento, in LA

In a collaboration with plant-based restaurateur Nic Adler, global pop star Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell are set to debut Argento, a vegan Italian restaurant in the heart of Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Scheduled to open its doors next month, Argento takes over the space once occupied by Little Pine, a vegan eatery established in 2015 by vegan musician Moby. Adler, known for expanding the local plant-based scene in LA with establishments like Monty’s Good Burgers and Nic’s On Beverly, aims to infuse Argento with a neighborhood restaurant ambiance. The revamp of the space includes a VIP chef’s table and an expanded outdoor patio. Argento’s menu promises a departure from processed alternative meat items, opting instead to celebrate whole, plant-based foods. Adler emphasizes …

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Girl drinking milk in school

© Lightfield Studios - stock.adobe.com

Politics & Law

LA Student Wins Legal Battle for Plant-Based Options, Soy Milk Now Available on Request

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently concluded a legal settlement with Marielle Williamson, a 2023 graduate of Eagle Rock High School, in collaboration with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The lawsuit, which ruled in favor of Williamson, involved the promotion of plant-based milk within the educational system, pushing back on dairy as the default beverage option. The lawsuit began when Williamson was prohibited from distributing literature critiquing cow’s milk in her school, citing its impact on human health, animal welfare, and the environment. This incident prompted a broader conversation about the role of dairy products in American schools and the current federal laws regarding its compulsory inclusion in the National School Lunch Program. Filed in a federal court in Los Angeles, the …

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Plant Power Fast Food coney dog

© Plant Power Fast Food

Products & Launches

Comedian Tim Robinson and Plant Power Fast Food Team Up to Launch Plant-Based Coney Dog

Plant-based fast food chain Plant Power Fast Food introduces a vegan version of the Coney hot dog in collaboration with comedian and actor Tim Robinson. The Coney dog, a Midwest favorite, is traditionally topped with a meaty chili sauce, mustard, and finely chopped white onions. Although it’s often associated with Coney Island in New York, the popular dish originated in Michigan, making the partnership especially close to Tim’s heart as a Midwesterner. Plant Power Fast Food is not just launching a plant-based Coney dog but is also offering limited-edition “Coney Club” hats and t-shirts showcasing the collaboration, which are available for purchase online. Proceeds from the sales of the Coney dog and exclusive merchandise will be channeled toward the non-profit organization, Youth Climate Save, which …

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plant based eggs sunny side up

© Yo Egg

Fairs & Events

Yo Egg to Debut Mini Plant-Based Sunny-Side-Up Eggs at Vkind Experience in LA

Vegan platform Vkind announces that the Israeli startup Yo Egg will debut mini plant-based sunny-side-up eggs at its forthcoming multicultural food event, the Vkind Experience (VKX). Yo Egg, also based in Southern California, developed the mini-eggs, especially for VKX. The new product will be featured in a custom dish curated by celebrity chef Chris Tucker for the event’s Asian room.  According to Vkind, VKX is a comprehensive plant-based food experience that will immerse participants in a multi-sensory world, offering a tour through eleven themed rooms covering 35,000 square feet at Magic Box in Los Angeles. The event is scheduled for the 11th and 12th of November, 2023. This event follows Vkind’s successful vegan cooking competition show Peeled, sponsored by VFC, the famous UK vegan fried …

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BioVenture Nexus 2023, the premier event exploring innovation and networking in the fields of synthetic biology, bioprocessing, biotech, food tech, and AI.

© BioVenture Nexus

Fairs & Events

Industry Leaders, Visionary Entrepreneurs, Investors & Scientists to Speak on Biotech, Food Tech, and AI at BioVenture Nexus 2023

BioVenture Nexus 2023, the premier event exploring innovation and networking in the fields of synthetic biology, bioprocessing, biotech, food tech, and AI, is set to take place on the 5th and 6th of October at the JW Marriott Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles, California. The event, organized by conference organizer Rare and Infinite, aims to connect industry leaders, visionary startups, leading investors, and scientists reshaping food, ingredients, materials, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, therapies, and beyond using new technologies.  Gabriel Levesque-Tremblay, co-founder of US-cultivated meat company Orbillion, is on the organizing committee. According to Levesque, the conference, organized and focused on serving the community, has kept prices at a minimum to ensure people can access this unique event.  The conference  At BioVenture Nexus 2023, attendees can engage in dynamic discussions, gain valuable …

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Hey, Sunshine Kitchen

© Hey, Sunshine Kitchen

Food Service

Chefs With Celebrity Fans Including Zooey Deschanel Open Plant-Based Restaurant in LA

Sisters Jenny Engel and Heather Golden Ray have opened a fully plant-based fast-casual restaurant called Hey, Sunshine Kitchen in Culver City, Los Angeles County. Engel and Ray are trained chefs and cookbook authors with over 23 years of experience, who count celebrities such as Zooey Deschanel among their fans. They are the entrepreneurs behind vegan food company and cooking school Spork Foods, which they have run for over 15 years. With Hey, Sunshine Kitchen, the sisters aim to “revolutionize the plant-based food industry and transform the future of fast-casual restaurants”. The menu features a range of bowls, salads, tacos, sandwiches, kids’ meals, and desserts, including: Mediterranean Chickpea Bowl Backyard BBQ Tofu Salad Avocado Crunch Bowl Baja “Fish” Taco Kids’ mac & cheese and chickpea nuggets …

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Hart House opens fourth location at USC campus

Kevin Hart’s fourth location in less than a year @ Hart House

Fast Food

Hart House Opens Fourth Location in Less Than a Year at USC Campus

Plant-based fast food chain Hart House opened yesterday its newest and fourth location across from the University of Southern California (USC) campus in Downtown Los Angeles. Hart House’s new strategic location — the chain’s first restaurant near a University — aims to make sustainable and plant-forward food accessible to students, teachers, and the whole community that revolves around the university. “I am very excited that we are opening our fourth Hart House at USC. College students are always looking for easy and delicious meals and Hart House satisfies both of those wants,” commented Kevin Hart. Hart House at USC Since comedian Kevin Hart launched his all-vegan concept in August 2022 to compete with fast food giants like McDonald’s and Burger King, the brand has expanded its …

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New Culture mozzarella on a pizza

Image credit: Evan Robinson

Gastronomy & Food Service

New Culture’s “Groundbreaking” Animal-Free Mozzarella Makes World Debut in Los Angeles

New Culture’s animal-free mozzarella made its world debut yesterday, where leading chefs, culinary influencers and media gathered at the acclaimed Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles to taste the revolutionary cheese. Hosted by award-winning chef Nancy Silverton, the event gave guests a first chance to experience New Culture’s “first-of-its-kind” mozzarella, made from precision fermentation instead of cows.  Silverton and her team designed and prepared a four-course meal to showcase the versatility of New Culture’s cheese. The menu included arancini, eggplant parmesan, and speciality pizzas that featured the mozzarella chunked, shredded, sliced and baked.  Major milestone According to New Culture, the event marked an important milestone as the company prepares for its official launch at Pizzeria Mozza in 2024.  “The evening was an incredible debut for our …

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Vegan Fast Food on Table

©Hart House

Fast Food

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

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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Real Vegan Mozzarella Cheese

©New Culture

Gastronomy & Food Service

New Culture Partners with Chef Nancy Silverton to Launch “Revolutionary” Animal-Free Mozzarella in 2024

Precision fermentation startup New Culture announces it is partnering with iconic chef and restauranteur Nancy Silverton to launch its first product – animal-free mozzarella – in Silverton’s acclaimed Pizzeria Mozza restaurant in 2024. New Culture says the debut will mark a significant milestone in making its animal-free dairy cheese available to consumers.  As the co-owner of the renowned Mozza Restaurant Group, Silverton is known for her focus on high-quality pizza crust and premium mozzarella cheese.  According to New Culture, its product is the first animal-free cheese to meet Silverton’s high standards and be offered on the meny at any of her restaurants. The launch will feature two new pizzas: A traditional Margherita and a caponata pizza with eggplant, tomato confit, pickled onions and caperberries.  New Culture …

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Love.Life is announces the grand opening of its new restaurant on May 5 in Culver City, California.

© Love.Life

Gastronomy & Food Service

Love.Life Announces Grand Opening of 100% Plant-Based Restaurant in LA, Today May 5th

Love.Life announces the grand opening of its new restaurant today, May 5 in Culver City, California. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, the 100% plant-based restaurant represents the “first element of the Love.Life experience”, which will entail food, holistic medical care, and wellness therapies. Co-founded in 2020 by John Mackey, Walter Robb, former co-CEO of Whole Foods, and Betsy Foster, a former executive of the grocer, the company acquired the Miami-based restaurant, Love Life Cafe, and also recently announced the acquisition of Plant Based TeleHealth which was rebranded as Love.Life Telehealth. “I have been passionate about healthy eating since the inception of Whole Foods and believe the food we eat is the most powerful choice we can make when it comes to health,” …

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yoga-urt two scoops

©Yoga-urt

Company News

Yoga-urt Now Offering Franchise Opportunities in the USA

After eight successful years of operation, Yoga-urt, a 100% vegan and gluten-free soft-serve dessert chain, reveals it is now launching its franchise concept. The Los Angeles-based dessert company states that the franchise opportunities make it the first 100% vegan and gluten-free soft-serve ice cream chain in the area. Yoga-urt differentiates itself from other providers by using only organic and natural plant-based ingredients with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. “Customers love our soft serve ice cream and given the high demand and growth, we are proud to take the next step in developing the brand through franchising,” said Melissa Schulman, founder of Yoga-urt. “We hope to inspire a new generation of business owners who want to cement their legacy in the organic food and wellness …

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Pulled pork food truck

UNLIMEAT Food Truck

Fairs & Events

UNLIMEAT Launches LA Food Truck Tour for Korean-Inspired Plant-Based Pulled Pork

Korean-inspired plant-based brand UNLIMEAT announces the launch of its LA Food Truck Tour. Designed to promote UNLIMEAT’s pulled pork products at Albertsons, the event will travel across Los Angeles to sample the brand’s creations. The tour officially kicked off on March 19th, and is scheduled to appear at various community events and festivals, including Vegan Exchange,  Smorgasburg Los Angeles and Vegan Street Fair on Sunday, March 26. The tour will also stop at select Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons market locations.  According to UNLIMEAT, the food truck will serve a “delightful” menu of Mexican-Asian fusion dishes including: Bulgogi Tacos made with their signature plant-based Korean BBQ; Pulled Pork Sliders; and Fried Mandu Dumplings with chili oil and soy sauce.  UNLIMEAT says it selected Los Angeles as …

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Crowd_AVASummit

© AVA Summit

Fairs & Events

The AVA Summit Returns in July to Unite and Inspire Animal and Vegan Advocates

This July will see the return of The Animal & Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit in Los Angeles, bringing together diverse and contemporary thought leaders and experts in animal advocacy. This action-inspiring summit aims to empower attendees to succeed in saving the lives of animals. As an overarching conference series for the animal and vegan advocacy movement, the organizers are bringing together advocates focusing on systemic change and working on a wide range of tactics, strategies, and approaches towards a shared vision: creating a world in which animals are removed from our food system. Leave with newfound inspiration “Attendees can expect to leave with newfound inspiration, strategies, and methods to be more impactful advocates – whether in their personal advocacy, or within their organizations,” explains Michael …

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david-chang-meati

David Chang ©Meati Foods

Food Service

Meati Foods Launches the “Meati Culinary Collective” Led by Celebrity Chefs

Meati Foods last week unveiled an evolving series of chef partnerships called the “Meati Culinary Collective,” in which its mycelium-based meat alternatives will be prepared by well-known and prominent chefs. This spring, Meati is collaborating with the following chefs: David Chang of world-renowned Momofuku and Majordomo Media; two-time BBQ World Champion Charlie McKenna, chef-owner of Lillie’s Q in Chicago; and chefs Tom Colicchio and Evan Funke. These chefs will showcase curated recipes, original content and meals featuring Meati products both in the restaurant and at home via Meati kits. “I’ve been following plant-based innovation closely for years,” says David Chang, chef and founder of Momofuku and Majordomo Media. “I can say without hesitation that the food Meati delivers is second to none in terms of …

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Vitacoco X Alfred

© Vita Coco

Beverages

Vita Coco Barista MLK Launches Exclusively With Alfred Coffee in LA, SF & Austin

The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: COCO), a leading provider of healthy beverages and well-known for its popular coconut water product, has launched Vita Coco Barista MLK, exclusively with the LA-based Alfred Coffee chain. The uber-trendy Alfred Coffee also offers the PBBS, a Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich featuring Impossible Sausage, folded JUST Egg and Violife Cheddar on a vegan potato bun. The new Vita Coco barista mlk product is made from a blend of coconut water and coconut cream, is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GM. As part of the partnership, all Alfred Coffee locations across Los Angeles, San Francisco and Austin will offer Vita Coco Barista MLK on its menus, and customers can add it to their beverages at no extra charge.   New Coconut Date …

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Yo Egg with runny yolks on a toast

© Yo Egg

Products & Launches

Animal-Free Yo Egg With Runny Yolk Finally Arrives in Restaurants Across Los Angeles

Amid a nationwide egg shortage and rising prices of eggs in the US, Israel’s Yo Egg debuts what it claims to be the world’s first animal-free whole egg, poached style, on menus at restaurants across Southern California this week. “Unlike any other egg alternative on the market, Yo Egg features a runny yolk and tastes just like chicken eggs,” says the company. In May 2022, Yo Egg secured $5 million in an oversubscribed seed round led by Stray Dog Capital and NFX for the ‘market’s first’ fried and poached egg products, announcing at the time a possible debut in restaurants across Greater Los Angeles, US, by the end of 2022. In Israel, Yo Egg already serves both poached and sunny-side-up versions at a breakfast chain …

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