Diet

Wholly-Veggie-cauliflower

© Wholly Veggie
Sustainability / Environment

Scientific Review Urges Switch to Plant-Based Diets as Preparation for Climate Change Emergencies

The nonprofit organization Center for Biological Diversity has released a new scientific review showing that switching to plant-based diets can help address the public health challenges that arise from climate change-related emergencies. Healthy plant-based diets are crucial in preventing and controlling chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and hypertension, associated with poor dietary choices. A healthy population reduces the demand for a stressed healthcare system, enhancing individual and public resilience in climate and public health crises, argues the report. “Most people in the United States have at least one diet-related chronic disease, and that makes them extremely vulnerable in a disaster,” said Mark Rifkin, senior food and agriculture policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity and author of the review. Preparing for …

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poke bowl - Impact Food

© Impact Food

Health

New Study Finds Healthy Plant-Based Diets Slow Down Aging Process

A new study has found that adopting a healthy plant-based diet can slow down the human body’s aging process.  The study was conducted among a large group of Asian participants over a long period of time to determine the connection between plant-based diets and aging. But since the aging process is complex and varies among individuals, the researchers used a newly developed biological age biomarker, called MDAge, to measure aging in the study participants to understand it better.  MDAge integrates multiple biomarkers relevant to physical functions and provides information about overall health. This tool was found to be a more accurate measure of aging than chronological age, as it better predicted all-cause mortality, explain the authors.  Using these biomarkers, the researchers identified three distinct aging trajectories, …

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ProVeg NFH egg dishes

Image: ProVeg Internatiional
Egg Alternatives

What’s Driving Consumers to Try Plant-Based Egg Products?

Plant-based eggs are gaining consumer favour. This isn’t a recent development, however, the rate at which the industry is growing is surprising. In its recent New Food Hub article, ProVeg International uncovers the main consumer motivators for plant-based eggs and dives into the micro-drivers within each.  Throughout the piece, ProVeg shares insights to equip businesses with the knowledge they need to understand their consumers and attract them to the blossoming alt-egg market. Consumers value health  Research shows that health is the greatest driver in the plant-based egg market, due to numerous health risks and allergies associated with animal-based eggs, as well as the benefits of consuming plant-based alternatives. Plant-based eggs appeal to health-conscious consumers for a number of reasons: Low to no cholesterol: By swapping …

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Vegan Pennina Domino's France

Vegan Peppina ©Domino's France
Market & Trends

 26% of French People Would Go Vegan for at Least a Month, Survey Reveals

A study by the delivery service Deliveroo, conducted with the polling institute YouGov in December 2022 among 1030 people aged 18 and over, reveals that more than a quarter of French people (26%) say they are ready to try veganism for a month. This is the fourth year that Deliveroo has conducted a study to assess the evolution of veganism in France, showing that the movement is becoming popular over the years. In 2019, only 12% of participants said to be willing to try a vegan diet. Young people for the animals This year’s survey has revealed that removing all animal products from the diet is more attractive for younger generations. The study shows that 40% of 18-24-year-olds are ready to try a vegan diet, and 36% of …

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just eat's veganuary food offer

© Just Eat
Market & Trends

Just Eat Joins Veganuary, Reveals 12% of Spanish Consumers Participate in the Challenge

Just Eat, a food delivery platform operating in more than 20 countries, has joined Veganuary 2023 by adding a new section for veggie options to its app to promote and increase vegetable consumption during January. Spanish consumers practicing Veganuary Just Eat conducted a survey with IPSOS Digital to provide data on Spanish consumers’ attitudes toward following a plant-based diet, revealing that 12% of Spanish consumers were practicing Veganuary. The study also showed that 17% of Spanish consumers have already reduced their meat intake in their regular diet. Furthermore, according to the study, the main reasons for eating vegan or vegetarian food among the respondents were: taste (38%), health (36%), and sustainability (26%).  “This shows that the prejudice towards this type of food is decreasing and clearly reflects the global …

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Cow in the Deck chair PlantBased Treaty

© The Plant Based Treaty
Charity & Campaigns

Edinburgh Becomes First European Capital to Join the Plant Based Treaty in Response to the Climate Emergency

Edinburgh becomes the first Scottish city and the first European capital to join the Plant Based Treaty initiative in response to the climate emergency. Haywards Heath in the UK, Boynton Beach in Florida, Los Angeles, Rosario in Argentina, one city in Turkey, and fourteen cities in India have joined The Plant Based Treaty. Since its launch in August 2021, the initiative has received support from 70,000 individual endorsers, 5 Nobel laureates, IPCC scientists, more than 1000 NGOs, and 1000 businesses. Green Councillor Steve Burgess presented the Plant Based Treaty to The City Council of Edinburgh, which voted unanimously to produce an impact assessment on the implications of endorsing The Treaty. The finalized report shows that “meat and dairy consumption must reduce to achieve climate targets” because food-related emissions and …

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Turkey Submarine Sandwich

©Only Plant Based!/ Unreal Deli
Studies & Numbers

US Consumers Are Choosing Vegan Over Keto, While 56% Want More Verified Vegan Cosmetics

Two new studies have revealed that US consumers are increasingly turning towards vegan diets and cruelty-free cosmetics. Research by Chef’s Pencil found that veganism has become more popular than ketogenic diets, which previously topped the rankings for four consecutive years. Two more plant-forward diets — vegetarian and Mediterranean — also made the top ten, according to Google Trends data from 2022. However, there are wide discrepancies between regions, with veganism most popular in coastal states and keto diets still in the lead in many inland areas. The most vegan-friendly states are Oregon, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, and California. Demand for vegan cosmetics Meanwhile, a survey by The Vegan Society has examined demand for ethical cosmetics in the US, along with consumers’ understanding of the …

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a range of vegan products at a supermarket

© Vegetarianos Hoy FB
Market & Trends

NGO Vegetarianos Hoy to Identify Plant-Based Consumption Habits in LATAM

The NGO Vegetarianos Hoy launched its Latin American Consumer Survey this week to obtain insights into consumer preferences for plant-based foods and products. The study targets five countries: Peru, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. As veganism is rising in Latin America, the study will focus on consumption habits and identifying consumer motives for migrating to a plant-based diet. It will collect relevant data to develop future awareness campaigns on the benefits of changing to more sustainable eating habits, explains the NGO. Vegetarianos Hoy has been active in the region since 2017, promoting animal welfare and more ethical, healthy, and sustainable eating habits. Its work includes cage-free campaigns, Meatless Mondays, V-Label certifications, corporate and food service outreach, and ‘veggie challenges’. Vegetarianos Hoy represented Latin America at the …

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Heura BREADED CHICKEN

© Heura
Market & Trends

Report Finds That One in Two Spanish Consumers Purchase Plant-Based Products

Violife, NeWind Foods, and the Association of Manufacturers and Distributors (AECOC) commissioned a report about Spanish consumers of plant-based foods, which confirms a growing interest in plant-based meat and alt dairy products in Spain. The study shows that 50% of consumers have recently purchased a plant-based product, and 70% would purchase more in the coming months. AECOC SHOPPERVIEW, AECOC’s consumer research platform, which carried out the report, reveals in the analysis that more than a quarter of Spaniards (26.4%) are plant-based consumers. 54.5% of women and 45.5% of men, aged between 25 and 45 years, living as a couple with minor children and residing in large cities, claim to be ‘veggie,’ meaning they either follow a flexitarian, vegan or vegetarian diet, says the report. Key …

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dan-gold-unsplash-courtesy LiveGreen

Image courtesy LiveGreen
Studies & Numbers

Report Discusses Fairest Way to Shift High-Income Countries to Plant-Based Diets

A report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has assessed how high-income countries could best transition from industrialised animal agriculture to plant-based diets. Citing strong evidence that this transition will be necessary in the fight against climate change, the report examines how it can be done fairly, with costs and benefits evenly distributed. This will be important in garnering public support for meat reduction policies, especially among those who work in animal agriculture or consider meat an important part of their diet and culture. According to SEI, the concept of a just transition is widely recognised in the energy sector but has only recently been considered in the context of the food industry. The institute’s report examines which stakeholders would be most affected by a …

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thryve's promotional panflet showing plant-based meat with dip sauce on the side

© IFFCO Group
Products & Launches

IFFCO Launches “GCC’s First 100% Plant-Based Meat Venture” in UAE

IFFCO Group has announced the launch of THRYVE, claimed to be the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC’s) first 100% plant-based meat venture. IFFCO is an international UAE-based group that manufactures and markets FMCG brands such as Noor, Rahma, Al Baker, Hayat, and Savannah. The company plans to commission its first plant-based meat factory by early 2023, accelerating the shift towards sustainable and healthy food sources. Investing in the future THRYVE will be an innovative plant-based food hub that aims to develop, manufacture, and market a sustainable, healthy plant-based meat and alternative foods portfolio. The venture plans to blend new food research and technology with local cuisine and deep-rooted traditions to create products tailored to the region’s demand for sustainable foods. “Our plant-based venture launch is guided …

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Climate change and global warming concept. Children sitting on drying lake with the sky turning orange by an pollution from industrial or city.

© piyaset -stock.adobe.com
Sustainability / Environment

High Meat Consumption Endangers Global Food Supply Concludes Report

PwC Strategy& recently launched a report entitled “The Coming Sustainable Food Revolution,” which concludes that the current food production model is jeopardizing the future global food supply. The greatest threat, it finds, comes from the unsustainable farming practices needed to supply the high demand for meat consumption. The report also emphasizes that changing eating habits is crucial for minimizing food production impacts on the environment and that future generations will struggle to farm if our practices do not change. Shift is slow but meaningful The current shift in industrialised countries from meat towards a more varied, plant-based diet is slow but meaningful, says the report. According to a new survey, meat consumption is declining in Europe, but seemingly the shift should be more urgent. “Even …

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Plant-based burger

© CJ Freshway
Company News

CJ Freshway Plant-Based Burgers to Be Provided to Schools in Seoul

CJ Freshway, a South Korean B2B food distributor and food service company, will supply school cafeterias around Seoul with plant-based burgers. The company recently announced that its No Meat Cheese Cutlet Burger is ready for release and distribution.  The meat-free burger is made with non-GMO soy protein, vegan chipotle sauce, and romaine lettuce, served in a hamburger bun. It can be assumed that the cheese is dairy though vegconomist is yet to confirm. According to CJ Freshway’s official Lim Ji-sun, each school will have 30 plant-based burgers to offer twice a week. CJ Freshways’ distributors will deliver to school cafeterias a plant-based meal kit containing the cutlet and the rest of the ingredients needed to assemble the burger.   Plant-based alternatives for schools In 2021, …

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Liz_Truss

gov.uk
Sustainability / Environment

New PM Liz Truss Urged to Prioritise Meat Reduction to “Avoid the Prospect of Eco-System Collapse”

The Plant-Based Food Alliance UK (PBFA) has implored Liz Truss, the new UK Prime Minister, to update the government’s food strategy to address the current global climate and food crises.  According to the Alliance, the food strategy’s white paper that was made public last June was a missed opportunity that did not even consider the government’s own climate advisors’ recommendations on the inclusion of meat reduction targets of 30% by 2030. The organisation urges the government to rewrite its food strategy and include time-bound targets for reducing meat and dairy consumption to make it fit in a century in which climate resilience and food security must become a priority. “Setting targets for meat reduction is no longer a radical measure. Institutions from the UN to …

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Climate change and global warming concept. Children sitting on drying lake with the sky turning orange by an pollution from industrial or city.

© piyaset -stock.adobe.com
Science

Plant-Based Diets and Rewilding Would Provide Double Climate Dividend

Plant-based diets could provide wealthy countries with what researchers are calling a “double climate dividend”. A dietary shift from animal-based to plant-based foods could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a staggering 61%, as well as increase carbon sequestration dramatically, according to a new study in Nature Food. The research shows how high-income nations could reduce agricultural production emissions by 61% annually when adopting plant-based diets, while at the same time sequestering huge amounts of carbon if the freed-up land is allowed to rewild to natural vegetation. The study claims that the amount of possible carbon sequestration in one year could equal approximately 14 years of current global agricultural emissions.  The figures are based on the premise that 54 high-income countries – representing just 17% of …

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Plead for Planet Antonio Guterres

©Plead for Planet
Society

UN Secretary-General António Guterres Asked to Go Plant-Based in the Fight Against Climate Change

30 influential NGOs from 15 countries have signed an open letter calling for the UN Secretary-General to adopt a plant-based diet. António Guterres has been urged to gradually adopt a plant-based diet and set an individual example in tackling climate change. “Achieving the Paris climate agreement targets and limiting global warming requires a drastic change in eating habits” The open letter calls on Secretary-General Guterres to recognize the role of food production in fighting climate change, as well as promoting a plant-based diet as one of the most effective ways an individual can reduce their carbon footprint. As a staunch promoter of carbon neutrality in his past mandate, as well as calling the threat of climate change “the battle of his life”, the letter urges …

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Jane Goodall

Image: janegoodall.org
Sustainability / Environment

Dr. Jane Goodall Tells EU: “Tsunami” of Animal Products is Overwhelming Nature

An international group of over 60 scientists has called on the European Commission to shift its funding for food advertisements away from animal products and towards healthier and more sustainable plant-based diets. Among them is the world-renowned ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, Ph.D., DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute. In a letter to the Commission, the scientists note that recent Commission policy documents such as the Farm to Fork strategy for a healthier and more environmentally sustainable food system and the Beating Cancer plan recognize the need for a shift to more plant-rich diets. “We are calling on the Commission to reform its EU farm products promotion policy so that it provides support and incentives for the crucial …

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