Rudy's Vegan Butcher in London is the UK's first permanent vegan butcher shop. Rudy's Vegan Butcher
On World Vegan Day this past Nov. 1, the UK's first permanent vegan butcher shop opened in London and completely sold out. Inundated with 100 online orders within their first 10 minutes, the shop also attracted long lines down the street, reported Plant Based News.
<p>According to <a href="https://www.livekindly.co/uk-getting-its-first-vegan-butcher-shop/" target="_blank">Live Kindly</a>, while set up much like a traditional butcher shop with white tile walls and meat cases, <a href="https://rudysvegan.com/" target="_blank">Rudy's Vegan Butcher</a> offers patrons completely meat- and dairy-free selections, including <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plant-based" target="_self">plant-based</a> pastrami, seitan chicken, 'soysage' patties and Christmas turkey rolls. The substitutes are made from soya and wheat protein seitan that mimic the experience of meat, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vegan-butcher-rudys-seitan-soya-pastrami-lobstah-burgers-chicken-pork-2020-10" target="_blank">Business Insider</a> reported.</p><p>"It's all designed to emulate meat. It tastes like meat, it's got meat-like texture," said veteran vegan chef and Rudy's co-founder Matthew J. Foster, reported <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/vegan-butcher-fake-meat-london" target="_blank">Fox News</a>.</p><p>Spurred on by the animal cruelty he witnessed as a professional chef, Foster and his business and life partner Ruth (Rudy) Mumma opened the non-traditional butcher shop as an extension of their popular restaurant, Rudy's Dirty Vegan Diner. The latter launched in April 2018 as London's first vegan diner, <a href="http://camdennewjournal.com/article/rudy-awakening-for-chef-who-went-vegan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Camden New Journal</a> reported.</p>
<p>"It didn't seem right anymore," Foster told the news report. "We can survive and thrive far better on a plant-based diet."</p><p>The restaurant is Foster's and Mumma's outlet for promoting and educating others about animal rights using "unbeatable, mouth-watering food and a punk AF attitude towards getting sh!t done," their <a href="https://rudysvegan.com/pages/the-rudy-story" target="_blank">website</a> says.</p><p>The diner reimagines popular American comfort and fast food entirely out of plants. Now, the butcher shop expands their vision and offerings, as do <a href="https://rudysvegan.com/collections/rudys-diy-kits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DIY home kits</a> for favorite Rudy's meals. For every DIY kit purchased, Rudy's donates £1 (about a dollar) to Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary.</p>
<p>The meat-free butcher shop will also stock ready-made foods like chili non-carne, vegan 'lobstah' salad and dairy-free cheese sauces, Live Kindly reported.</p><p>In addition to being cruelty-free for animals, a vegan diet has also been touted as one of the most effective ways individuals can <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/serve-plants-save-planet-2641555444.html" target="_self">reduce their carbon footprint</a>. Global meat production, especially beef and lamb, requires a high amount of carbon emissions and strains natural resources, something meatless alternatives can largely avoid, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/30/dining/climate-change-food-eating-habits.html#:~:text=But%2C%20in%20general%2C%20it%20takes,digest%20grass%20and%20other%20foods." target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.</p><p>"We're destroying the planet for our taste buds," warned Foster, reported Camden New Journal.</p>
<p>The UK plant-based movement is booming, despite the fact that only one percent of the population is vegan, reported Business Insider. Sales of plant-based foods grew 40 percent between 2014 and 2019 to around $1.05 billion per year in the UK, the report estimated. This figure is expected to exceed $1.41 billion by 2024.</p><p>Globally, the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/meatless-meat-sales-coronavirus-2645943304.html" target="_self">interest in plant-based products and alternative protein options</a> mirrors that of the UK, reported Fox News. The U.S. trend has been boosted by <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/meat-shortages-coronavirus-slaughterhouses-2645861788.html" target="_self">meat shortages at grocery stores</a>, due to meat plants closing during the pandemic.</p><p>"Many consumers perceive that <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/vegan-diet-health-benefits-2608604362.html" target="_self">plant-based foods are a healthier option</a>, and this notion is the key driver behind the reduction in meat consumption in recent years," food and drink analyst Kate Vlietstra told Business Insider.</p>
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McDonald's P.L.T. plant-based burger is an example of the company's new plant-based line of products to launch in 2021. Geoff Robins / AFP / Getty Images
By Neil King and Gabriel Borrud
A new report published by the market research company Packaged Facts suggests that 23% of American consumers have eaten plant-based meat products — and an additional 37% are interested in trying them. Is this the future?
<p>Bruce Friedrich is the founder and executive director of the Good Food Institute (GFI), an international non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that strives for alternatives to conventional agriculture products. DW's environment podcast team <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/environment-podcast-on-the-green-fence/a-48670967" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"On the Green Fence</a>" spoke with Bruce about the future of food as part of a series on meat consumption. </p><p><em>DW: What, in your opinion, is wrong with eating meat?</em></p><p><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/the-conditions-are-catastrophic-inside-germanys-factory-farms-on-the-green-fence/a-55349478" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Industrial animal meat production</a> causes more climate change than all forms of transportation combined. The United Nations looked at it. It said whatever issue we're looking at from an environmental standpoint, industrial meat production is one of the top three causes - species loss, soil, desertification, water pollution. Right now, we're all living through COVID-19, and the UN Environment Program just a couple of months ago asked, "How do we prevent the next COVID-19?" <a href="https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/statements/preventing-next-pandemic-zoonotic-diseases-and-how-break-chain" target="_blank">They listed seven things</a>, and the first one was that we need less industrial animal meat production.</p>
<p><em>Ok, so eating meat is harming the Earth and humanity. But that collective knowledge isn't going to stop us, is it?</em></p><p>Part of the problem is that for 50 years, environmentalists and global health experts and animal activists have been <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/eating-meat-is-no-longer-a-private-matter/a-55515722" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">begging the public to eat less meat</a>. And it's just not working. It's been a colossal failure. People are eating more and more meat even in developed economies. The UN is predicting we're going to need to produce 50 to 100% more meat by 2050.</p><p>So instead of doing that, let's give people everything that they like about meat. Let's give people meat, but let's make it from plants and grow it directly from cells. And we'll have a fraction of the negative environmental consequences, including a fraction of the impact on the climate. It will free up vast quantities of land for carbon sequestration. It won't require any antibiotics. We should be able to get to a place where it tastes exactly the same and gives people everything that they like about meat, but at a lower cost because of the efficiency gains.</p>
<p><em>But do you seriously believe that the majority of meat eaters will switch to plant-based products voluntarily?</em></p><p>What is meat? It's made up of lipids, amino acids, minerals and water. That's all it is. That stuff exists in plants. Scientists can solve this problem by bio-mimicking meat from plants. And for people who just want to eat animal meat, we can use standard tissue engineering techniques. We can grow meat directly from cells. It will be a healthier and more efficient product that frees up vast quantities of land. It's really a win-win-win. We need a new space race essentially focused on food. The government that manages to divorce meat production from the need for living animals is going to have bragging rights until the end of time.</p><p><span></span><em>McDonald's has announced plans to launch a plant-based line of products in 2021. How important is this development?</em></p><p>McDonald's has more restaurants and more revenue than any other restaurant chain on the planet. They introduced America to the chicken nugget, and we expect that they will be introducing millions more Americans to plant-based meat with their plant line. When they do something, they do it deliberately, and they do it on a massive scale. So this means that they are certain there will be sustained demand, and that an assured <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/11/10/beyond-meat-stock-mcdonalds-mcplant.html" target="_blank">supply chain</a> will be in place by the time they launch. This is a massive development for the plant-based meat industry.</p><p><em>So aside from McDonald's diversifying its product range, just how great a role do alternative meat products play in the market right now?</em></p><p>This is still very early days - we are still looking at products that are significantly less than 1% of the volume of meat sales. But animal meat production is pretty much as efficient as it is going to get and that is vastly inefficient. The most efficient animal at turning crops into meat is the chicken. It takes nine calories in the form of crops to get one calorie back out from a chicken. So the physiology of the chicken dictates 800% food waste. As plant-based products scale up, prices will come down and they will just become better and better environmentally when compared to industrial animal meat.</p>
<p><em>What do you see as the main obstacles to getting these alternative products into the mass market?</em></p><p>The only way to get mainstream acceptance is if the products taste the same or better and cost the same or less. And we are not there yet. The products cost more and often don't give meat eaters everything they're looking for from a taste profile perspective.</p><p><em>What about lab-grown meat? Is this a promising product or a dead end in your eyes?</em></p><p>We are very bullish on cultivating meat directly from cells. If you're going to grow a chicken to slaughter weight and again, chicken is the animal that gets to slaughter weight most quickly, you're going to have to plan years in advance to grow the crops, to feed the chicken. You need an entire flock of breeder animals. And even just the process of growing the chicken is going to take you six to seven weeks before it goes to the abattoir. With cultivated meat production, you can get that same growth in six days, not six weeks. So this is something we're super enthusiastic about at this point.</p><p><em>How do you respond to critics who say that fake meat products are pumped full of unhealthy additives?</em></p><p>That's just absurd. When you look at what makes a product healthy or unhealthy, we know that around 97% of people in Europe and North America are not consuming enough fiber. The most important macronutrients to be consuming are complex carbohydrates and fiber. Animal meat has none of either. Plant-based meat is an excellent source of both. We're supposed to be eating less saturated fat, less or no cholesterol and no trans fats.</p><p>Plant-based meat vastly outperforms animal meat across all of these metrics as well. A study done by the Stanford School of Medicine showed that in just eight weeks the plant-based products caused statistically significant improvement in heart disease risk factors. They are clearly much healthier.</p>
<p><em>So when will these plant-based products actually make the inroads you're hoping for?</em></p><p>On our current trajectory, meat production just goes up and up. 2019 was the highest per capita meat consumption in recorded history. This is planet-on-fire stuff. The former head of the World Health Organization said, we are literally looking at the end of modern medicine due to antibiotic resistance.</p><p>So, this is a global health crisis and an environmental crisis. We really need more entrepreneurs and more scientists to focus on this. And governments really need to wake up to the fact that this is deserving of lots of resources. Right now. It's just getting drops, but it needs to get a fire hose.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/will-plant-based-meat-become-the-new-fast-food/a-55578740" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.</em><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2648888749#/" target="_self"></a></p>From Your Site Articles
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Like many other plant-based foods and products, CBD oil is one dietary supplement where "organic" labels are very important to consumers. However, there are little to no regulations within the hemp industry when it comes to deeming a product as organic, which makes it increasingly difficult for shoppers to find the best CBD oil products available on the market.
<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjI3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTM2NzgzOX0.axY0HjeqRctJsR_KmDLctzDpUBLBN-oNIdqaXDb4caQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="774be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8379f35b1ca8a86d0e61b7d4bfc8b46e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce organic cbd oil" /><p>As one of the best brands in the business, Spruce CBD is well-known for its potent CBD oils that feature many additional beneficial phytocannabinoids. This brand works with two family-owned, sustainably focused farms in the USA (one located in Kentucky and one in North Carolina) to create its organic, small product batches. The max potency Spruce CBD oil contains 2400mg of full-spectrum CBD extract, but the brand also offers a lower strength tincture with 750mg of CBD in total.</p>
$89
CBDistillery
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU4OTM4Nn0.ypRdeDSBcE87slYrFfVrRwtJ2qGIK6FD5jBB4pndTMo/img.jpg?width=980" id="b473b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9930b53c9d58cb49774640a61c3e3e75" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="cbdistillery cbd oil" /><p>All of the products from CBDistillery are <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Hemp Authority Certified</a>, and for good reason. The company only uses non-GMO and pesticide-free industrial hemp that's grown organically on Colorado farms. Its hemp oils are some of the most affordable CBD products on the market, yet they still maintain a high standard of quality. CBDistillery has a wide variety of CBD potencies across its product line (ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle) and offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils to give customers a completely thc-free option.</p>
$35
FAB CBD
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDIwOTEyMn0.MlTjz096FJ0ev_-soK7_Z-FeQeJczWoeh9Qi9SSkHsY/img.jpg?width=980" id="04b26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76aa4862f44603242e318982acea6646" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="fab cbd oil" /><p>For an organic CBD oil that has it all, FAB CBD offers plenty of variety for any type of consumer. All of its products are made with zero pesticides and extracted from organically grown Colorado industrial hemp. FAB CBD oil comes in five all-natural flavors (mint, vanilla, berry, citrus, and natural) and is also available in four strengths (300, 600, 1200, and 2400mg per bottle).</p>
$39
NuLeaf Naturals
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExNTgyMX0.D6qMGYllKTsVhEkQ-L_GzpDHVu60a-tJKcio7M1Ssmc/img.jpg?width=980" id="94e4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3609a52479675730893a45a82a03c71d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="nuleaf naturals organic cbd oil" /><p>As an industry-leading brand, it comes as no surprise that NuLeaf Naturals sources its CBD extract from organic hemp plants grown on licensed farms in Colorado. The comany's CBD oils only contain two ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp seed oil and full spectrum hemp extract.</p><p>NuLeaf Naturals uses one proprietary CBD oil formula for all of its products, so you will get the same CBD potency in each tincture (60mg per mL), but can purchase different bottle sizes depending on how much you intend to use.</p>
$38.50
Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
$60
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Chipotle's "Real Foodprint" will tell you the ecological footprint of each menu item compared to the industry standard. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
How does your burrito impact the environment? If you ordered it from Chipotle, there is now a way to find out.
<p>The chain on Monday launched a first-of-its kind <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability" target="_self">sustainability</a> tool called the <a href="https://realfoodprint.chipotle.com/" target="_blank">Real Foodprint</a>, which allows customers to see how each of its 53 intentionally sourced ingredients compares to the industry average when it comes to key environmental metrics like <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/carbon-emissions" target="_self">carbon emissions</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/water" target="_self">water</a> use.</p><p>"Just by eating real, responsibly raised <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/food/" target="_self">food</a>, you can do a little something to help cultivate a better world," Bill Nye of Science Guy fame said in a video promoting the feature.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="edb1a1f60298c73efc6d7f5193a64a50"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fqWINfwdP_A?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<p>The Real Foodprint works like this, as <a href="https://retailleader.com/chipotle-sets-higher-bar-sustainability" target="_blank">Retail Leader explained</a>. When you place an order on the Chipotle app or on the website, the tracker will show you the environmental impact of each ingredient you select compared to the conventional equivalent. The ingredients are assessed according to five metrics:</p><ol><li>Less carbon emitted (measured in grams)</li><li>Water saved (in gallons)</li><li>Improved <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/soil-health" target="_self">soil health</a> (in square feet)</li><li>Organic land supported (in square feet)</li><li>Antibiotics avoided (in milligrams)</li></ol><p>So, for example, Nye's chicken bowl emits 0.8 fewer grams of carbon dioxide, saves 0.4 gallons of water, supports 1.7 square feet of improved soil health, supports 0.9 square feet of organic land and avoids 42.3 milligrams of antibiotics compared to a similar order made with conventional ingredients.</p>
<div id="e2a10" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ba6130b414a0ff5ec3fbe005c4232d31"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1320698022594920453" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">*wheels tv into classroom*
@BillNye wants to show you how Chipotle ingredients can help reduce the impact on the… https://t.co/Ddedz1FdeO</div> — Chi-vote-le (@Chi-vote-le)<a href="https://twitter.com/ChipotleTweets/statuses/1320698022594920453">1603713920.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The data points are provided by HowGood, an independent research company that draws on more than 450 peer-reviewed and scientific studies to compare Chipotle's ingredients to conventional options, the website explained. Chipotle is the first restaurant to partner with HowGood, the company said in a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chipotle-launches-real-foodprint-introduces-sustainability-impact-trackers-for-digital-orders-301159499.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press release</a>. The data points will be updated on a regular basis, so customers can see if Chipotle's environmental impact lessens or increases over time, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90567802/is-your-burrito-bad-for-the-environment-chipotle-has-a-tool-for-that" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fast Company reported</a>.</p><p>"Beyond asking people to make the right choice for the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate</a> based on a carbon label, we are demonstrating the impact of our sourcing practices through data computed based on the ingredients in our guests' orders," Chipotle's head of sustainability Caitlin Leibert said in the press release. "While our guests can make good choices for the planet by simply eating at Chipotle, the radical transparency provided by Real Foodprint also holds us accountable to improve our practices and source more sustainably over time. It is the combination of transparency for our guests and Chipotle's commitment to higher standards that make Real Foodprint so impactful."</p>
<p>Other restaurant brands have taken steps to provide environmental information to their customers, Fast Company pointed out. Meat alternative brand Quorn prints the carbon footprint of its products next to the nutrition label. And, two weeks ago, Panera started pointing out the "Cool Food Meals" on its menu, meals that have a lower carbon footprint. But Chipotle's Foodprint is the most specific and detailed Fast Company has encountered, writer Mark Wilson pointed out.</p><p>"You can literally measure the impact of adding pinto beans or a scoop of pico de gallo," Wilson wrote. "(Btw, order those beans! They capture carbon and fertilize soil with nitrogen naturally!)"</p><p>One downside to the Chipotle tool is the fact that it compares its own ingredients specifically to the industry standard, Wilson noted. This means that it tells you that choosing Chipotle-sourced steak saves 150 milligrams of antibiotics, while choosing tofu saves none, because conventional tofu requires none. The impact of the beef is compared to the industry standard for beef, but does not account for the huge environmental difference between choosing meat and choosing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/vegetarian" target="_self">vegetarian</a> options.</p><p>Chipotle chief marketing officer Chris Brandt said this was done to avoid passing a value judgement on individual foods.</p><p>"There's a lot of other metrics that say meat is bad, vegetarian is good. If you wanna live your life that way that's great ... everything is relevant to an industry average rather than a value judgment as to whether you eat meat or not," Brandt said.</p>
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Trending
By Ajit Niranjan
When private equity giant Blackstone invested in alternative milk maker Oatly this summer, furious customers pledged to boycott the dairy-free drink.
<p>"Blackstone investments have been linked with deforestation activities in Brazil," wrote British local produce shop Buth Bharraigh in a tweet announcing they would stop selling Oatly products.</p><p>"I don't want my money going to the destruction of the planet ... just so that I can have a creamy coffee in the morning!" wrote <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability" target="_self">sustainability</a> influencer Laura Young in Instagram and Twitter posts that were shared thousands of times.</p><p>They criticized Oatly for enabling Blackstone — an investment firm managing $564 billion (€478 billion) in assets — to greenwash climate-damaging investments. "Learn how we're backing sustainable, plant-based alternatives to dairy with our investment in @oatly," Blackstone wrote on its Instagram page.</p><p>The social media spat between a corporate giant, a "woke" food brand and disenchanted customers is part of a wider debate about the role of <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/oil-giants-face-shareholder-pressure-on-climate-emissions-greenhouse-gas-targets/a-48802418" target="_blank">capital in fighting climate change</a>. It has grown more significant in the food sector as investors start to divest from the highly polluting <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/meat-production-coronavirus-farming-cattle/a-54381190" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">meat and dairy industries</a>, and consumers look for sustainable alternatives.</p>
<h3>Divesting From Deforestation</h3><p>Meat production is the biggest driver of tropical <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/mass-deforestation-how-trade-fells-trees-in-brazil-and-indonesia/a-48280649" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deforestation</a>. Driven by demand for foods like burgers and milk, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/rainforests">rainforests</a> are burned to create land for cattle ranches, and to grow soy that is then mostly fed to livestock.</p><p>Blackstone, which has invested billions of dollars in the fossil fuel sector, partly owns Hidrovias do Brasil, a Brazilian logistics company that was linked to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest by U.S. news organization The Intercept last year. A spokesperson for Blackstone told DW the deforestation claims were "completely false and wholly fabricated."</p><p>Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman is a major donor to U.S. President Donald Trump, a <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/trump-climate-change-denial-emissions-environment-germany-fake-heartland-seibt/a-52688933" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">climate-science denier</a> who has rolled back environmental regulations and brought the U.S. out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.</p>
<h3>'Systemic Risks'</h3><p>Pressured by customers, campaigners and policymakers, some food companies are starting to assess their own ecological footprints.</p><p>In 2018, McDonald's pledged to clean its supply chains and cut its emissions. In July, Brazilian food processing giant Marfrig said it would remove deforestation from its production chain by the end of the decade.</p><p>Then, in September, JBS, the world's biggest meat-processing company, said it would monitor its entire supply chain to cut out <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/european-nations-warn-brazil-over-amazon-deforestation/a-54954854" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deforestation</a> by 2025. Its announcement came two months after investor Nordea Asset Management said it would divest holdings of about €40 million in the company because of a lack of engagement on environmental issues.</p><p>Last year, after fires devastated the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/amazon-rainforest-fire-deforestation-mining-slash-and-burn-brazil/a-54486689" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amazon rainforest</a>, a group of 251 investors called for a reduction in deforestation, identifying its environmental impacts as "systemic risks" to their portfolios.</p><p>Biodiversity and climate change matter to agricultural markets at risk of extreme weather and environmentally conscious consumers, said Matt McLuckie, research director at Planet Tracker, a UK-based nonprofit that aims to redirect capital toward sustainable development. "The trends are not looking positive for these agricultural producers, particularly in the beef sector."</p>
<h3>Alternative Sources of Protein</h3><p>The IPCC, the gold-standard on climate science, has said climate change could in part be slowed by switching to <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/vegan-meat-the-future-of-planet-saving-plant-based-eating/a-51054861" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plant-based diets</a>, particularly in richer countries. This is where oat milk comes in.</p><p>Oatly, the biggest player in the alternative milk industry, is valued at $2 billion, and is considering an initial public offering that could push that up to $5 billion, Bloomberg News reported in September. For a business whose core product is made by mixing two cheap and readily available ingredients — oats and water — the Swedish food company founded in the 1990s has seen incredible growth since entering the U.S. market four years ago.</p><p>While campaigners have spent years pressuring the financial world to take their money out of dirty investments like fossil fuel companies, little attention has been paid to finance in the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/food-sustainability-organic-discounter-cheap-environmental-costs-prices-factory-farming/a-54919142" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">agriculture sector</a>, which is responsible for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p>Shareholders are also typically the ones pressuring companies they own to improve their environmental record, and not the other way around.</p><p>The backlash against Oatly's partnership with Blackstone is fascinating because it's "looking through the other end of the telescope," said Daniel Firger, managing director at climate finance consultancy Great Circle Capital Advisors. "The target of so many people's anger here is Blackstone, a private equity group. And private equity, as compared to other parts of the financial markets, has not really had as much scrutiny."</p>
<h3>Diverting Capital to Climate Change</h3><p>By accepting a $200 million investment from a group led by Blackstone and including U.S. talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, musician Jay-Z and actor Natalie Portman, Oatly said it was diverting capital to sustainable causes. The returns Blackstone makes from the investment could inspire other private equity firms to green their portfolios, it said in a statement justifying its decision.</p><p>"We have to have a fundamental shift in basically everything we do: the way we eat, the way we move, the way we live," Ashley Allen, chief sustainability officer at Oatly, told DW. "The only way to do that, in my mind, is to incentivize finance toward those solutions and disincentivize finance toward high-carbon, high-risk, high-polluting entities."</p><p>Asked whether Oatly would set red lines on who could invest in it — for instance, fossil fuel companies — Allen said she wasn't sure. "I haven't been part of any discussions on that."</p><p>Oatly is not the first ethical food brand to anger customers by accepting money from an investor with a poor environmental record. U.S. ice cream producer Ben and Jerry's — which champions its commitment to social justice — was bought out in 2000 by Unilever, a global conglomerate that has come under fire from campaigners for deforestation and plastic pollution.</p><p>In recent years Unilever has begun to engage more with critics on environmental issues, threatening to sell off brands that do not contribute positively to society. But is still a major contributor to plastic pollution, for instance, responsible for more than 70,000 tons of plastic pollution a year, according to a report published in March by NGO Tearfund.</p><p>While it's important for activists to draw attention to inconsistencies in investments, said Firger, the scale of the climate emergency means hundreds more companies like Oatly need to grow as fast as they possibly can. "I'm not one for purity tests. I feel like we don't have time to waste."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/oatly-deforestation-dairy-brazil-blackstone-stephen-schwarzman-environment-climate-private-equity/a-55138702?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste" target="_blank">DW</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Beyond Meat's PLT is advertised at a McDonald's in London, Ontario during a trial that ended in April. GEOFF ROBINS / AFP via Getty Images
McDonald's' ended a highly-publicized six-month trial of a meatless Beyond Meat burger April 6 without announcing any plans to continue or expand the partnership, CBC News reported Thursday. Instead, it simply removed the burger's information from its website.
<p>Beyond Meat's shares plunged as much as 10 percent following the CBC story, as investors had hoped for a permanent arrangement between the alternative <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/meat-consumption" target="_self">meat</a> company and the fast-<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/food/" target="_self">food</a> giant, according to <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/beyond-meat-stock-price-after-mcdonalds-ends-trial-vegetarian-canada-2020-6-1029343100" target="_blank">Business Insider</a>. McDonald's stock was also trading down one percent, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/25/beyond-meat-shares-fall-after-mcdonalds-ends-canadian-trial-of-meatless-burger.html" target="_blank">CNBC News reported</a>. And some customers also expressed disappointment.</p><p>"I was really upset because it's the only thing on the menu that I could eat," London, Ontario-based <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/vegan" target="_self">vegan</a> customer Jenna Walker-Cronk told CBC News. "I don't know how long it takes to get a product out, but I feel like, at this point, I'm not keeping my hopes up."</p>
<div id="c2b05" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b3585b3cd96f889d22261b7b980976f8"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1255271846888574978" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@aammyysmyth Hi there. Our Plant-Based Burger was being tested in several Markets until April 6th. We have no curre… https://t.co/UBEDYZdYeM</div> — McDonald's Canada (@McDonald's Canada)<a href="https://twitter.com/McDonaldsCanada/statuses/1255271846888574978">1588115104.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Both McDonald's and Beyond Meat insisted nothing about their relationship had changed.</p><p>"We're evaluating learnings from our recent test to inform future menu options," a McDonald's spokesperson told CBC News by email Thursday. "As we look ahead, we will plan to bring plant-based options to the menu at the right time for customers in individual markets."</p><p>Beyond Meat, meanwhile, said the trial had gone well.</p><p>"We can only comment generally and share that we were pleased with the test," Beyond Meat spokesperson Shira Zackai told CBC News by email Monday.</p>
<p>McDonald's ran two trials of the burger in dozens of restaurants in southwestern Ontario between September 30 of 2019 and April 6. It sold the burger as the PLT, for plant, lettuce and tomato, and said it was trialling the burger in Canada for a potential global rollout.</p><p>In a May earnings call, JPMorgan analyst Ken Goldman expressed doubt to Beyond Meat management about what the trial's end had meant, as Business Insider reported.</p><p>"[T]ypically if a test did well, the retailer wouldn't end it, they would expand it," Goldman said.</p>
<p>But Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown said that the lack of expansion did not necessarily reflect on the trial.</p><p>"I can assure you there's no issue with McDonald's ... this is a way it's been planned and the way it's being executed. And there's been no change at all," Brown said. "I can't promise you that we'll see a massive expansion tomorrow. But there's been no change in information since we began this test and got good results in the beginning and got good results at the end."</p><p>It is possible that the lack of immediate follow-up had less to do with the trial itself and more to do with the fact that it wrapped up in the midst of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_self">coronavirus</a> pandemic.</p><p>"It's pretty hard to sort of make a decision on rolling out a product across the world, or even across America, when you're in the middle of a crisis," Toronto-based retail consultant Bruce Winder, who wrote a new book called <em>Retail Before, During & After COVID-19</em>, told CBC News.</p>
<p>Still, McDonald's lags behind its competitors when it comes to meatless offerings in North America. It has yet to offer a plant-based burger in the U.S., while Burger King has been selling the Impossible Burger for almost a year, CNBC pointed out. Impossible Foods also signed a deal this week to sell breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks, <a href="https://m.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/mcdonalds-dumps-beyond-burgers-shares-tumble-2212336" target="_blank">Investing.com reported</a>.</p><p>"People are increasingly aware plant-based products are going to completely replace the animal-based products in the food world within the next 15 years. That's our mission. That transformation is inevitable," Impossible CEO Patrick Brown told CNBC's Jim Cramer June 23, according to Investing.com.</p><p>McDonald's, which offers meatless burgers in countries including Finland, Sweden, India, South Africa and Australia, has promised a meatless burger will eventually be on its general menu, CBC News reported.</p>
<div id="a6dad" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0ab5b105b47e11b83fadc87557c6ab79"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1255893602703556608" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">🌱🍔
"I do expect that we will have plant based on the menu its just a question of when" -Chris Kempczinski, Mcdonald… https://t.co/btVNxx4Yvc</div> — Vote (@Vote)<a href="https://twitter.com/Iesa_Behbehani/statuses/1255893602703556608">1588263342.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>But for now, its North American customers will have to wait.</p><p>"It feels like [McDonald's is] behind everyone," Walker-Cronk told CBC News. "There's basically nothing else that I can eat there except for the french fries."</p>
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Destruction of Nature Is Triggering Pandemics, Say Leaders of WWF, UN and WHO
17 June
Health + Wellness
Deforestation and wildlife habitat loss in Uganda. Ron Waddington / CC BY-SA 2.0
Leaders from three international NGOs — the United Nations, the World Health Organization and WWF International — teamed up to issue a stark warning that pandemics like the coronavirus are a direct result of the destruction of nature caused by humans.
<p>In an op-ed published by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/17/coronavirus-warning-broken-relationship-nature" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, top figures from each organization argued that the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife">wildlife</a> trade, coupled with the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/deforestation">destruction of forests</a> and other habitats for wildlife, is causing a large number of animal diseases to migrate to human hosts.</p><p>The op-ed was written by Marco Lambertini, director general of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International; Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity; Maria Neira, director of the World Health Organization department of environment, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change">climate change</a> and health.</p>
<p>In their call to action ahead of the <a href="https://www.cbd.int/article/Summit-on-Biodiversity-2020" target="_blank">UN biodiversity summit in September</a>, the three senior representatives cited examples from prior incidents of environmental destruction that triggered new viruses in humans.</p><p>"We have seen many diseases emerge over the years — such as Zika, AIDS, SARS and Ebola — and although they are quite different at first glance, they all originated from animal populations under conditions of severe environmental pressures," they wrote, adding those examples "all illustrate that our destructive behavior toward nature is endangering our own health."</p><p>As <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/17/coronavirus-live-updates-us/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a> noted, the novel coronavirus that has led to a global pandemic likely started in a bat — the same host that was also linked to SARS, Ebola and MERS, among other viruses.</p>
<p>The three authors call for a green and healthy recovery in the wake of COVID-19. They note the importance of ending farming practices that destroy nature and the need to reform <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/meat-consumption">meat-intensive diets</a>. And yet, they're watching the world go the wrong way.</p><p>"Worryingly, while COVID-19 has given us yet another reason to protect and preserve nature, we have actually seen the reverse take place," the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/17/coronavirus-warning-broken-relationship-nature" target="_blank">authors write</a>. "From the Greater Mekong to the Amazon and Madagascar, alarming reports have emerged of increased poaching, illegal logging and forest fires, while many countries are engaging in hasty environmental rollbacks and cuts in funding for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/conservation">conservation</a>. This all comes at a time when we need it most."</p>
<p>A <a href="http://panda.org/pandemics" target="_blank">WWF report</a> titled <em>COVID 19: urgent call to protect people and nature</em> was also published Wednesday. It warns: "The risk of a new [wildlife-to-human] disease emerging in the future is higher than ever, with the potential to wreak havoc on health, economies and global security," as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/pandemics-destruction-nature-un-who-legislation-trade-green-recovery" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported.</p><p>As <a href="https://www.oceanographicmagazine.com/news/wwf-urgent-global-action/" target="_blank">Oceanographic Magazine</a> reports, the <a href="http://panda.org/pandemics" target="_blank">WWF report</a> shows that 60 to 70 percent of new diseases since 1990 started in wildlife. During the same time period, an area of forests measuring roughly seven times the area of the UK has been destroyed.</p><p>"We must urgently recognize the links between the destruction of nature and human health, or we will soon see the next pandemic," said Lambertini, in a WWF <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/press_releases/?364416/Conditions-are-rife-for-next-pandemic-unless-urgent-action-is-taken-WWF-warns" target="_blank">press release</a> that accompanied the new report. "There is no debate, and the science is clear; we must work with nature, not against it. Unsustainable exploitation of nature has become an enormous risk to us all."</p>
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Ground beef on sale at Walmart, one of the stores impacted by a nationwide recall, in Marietta, Georgia on Jan. 16, 2013. Photo courtesy of the city of Marietta
New Jersey-based Lakeside Refrigerated Services is recalling nearly 43,000 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli.
<p>The beef was sold at Walmart, among other grocery stores, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ground-beef-recalled-from-walmart-grocers-e-coli-2020-6" target="_blank">Business Insider reported</a>. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2020/recall-012-2020-release" target="_blank">announced</a> the recall Saturday. It comes as the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_self">coronavirus</a> pandemic has raised <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/meat-shortages-coronavirus-slaughterhouses-2645861788.html" target="_self">concerns</a> about the national <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/meat" target="_self">meat</a> supply and sickened <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/food/" target="_self">food</a> safety inspection workers.</p><p>"FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers," the agency wrote. "Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase."</p>
<div id="acd07" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a4b2fa2ea9af06ce67e981e336398160"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1271974488339603458" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">#Recall: Lakeside Refrigerated Services Recalls Beef Products due to Possible E.coli O157:H7 Contamination https://t.co/NkQ9MiBqjC</div> — USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service (@USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service)<a href="https://twitter.com/USDAFoodSafety/statuses/1271974488339603458">1592097324.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The recalled beef was produced June 1 and has an establishment number of "EST. 46841." Approximately 42,922 pounds of beef were affected. Impacted brands include Marketside Butcher and Thomas Farms, and the products were shipped to grocery stores across the country including Walmart.</p><p>"As soon as we were notified by Thomas Foods of the recall, we immediately began the process of alerting our stores and distribution centers to remove the affected product from our store shelves and inventory, including a sales restriction," the retail chain said in a statement reported by Business Insider. "Customers who have purchased the items identified in the recall should dispose of the product and return to their nearest Walmart for a full refund."</p>
<p>FSIS provided a detailed list of the recalled products:</p><p>1-lb. vacuum packages containing "MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF" and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53298-82.</p><p>1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of "MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES" and a use or freeze by date of 06/27/20 and lot code P53934-28.</p><p>3-lb. vacuum packages containing three 1 lb. pieces of "MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN / 7% FAT" and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53929-70.</p><p>1-lb. tray packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of "THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT" and a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and lot code P53944-10.</p><p>4-lb. tray packages containing 10 ¼ lb. pieces of "THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80% LEAN / 20% FAT" and a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and lot code P53937-45.</p><p>1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of "THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT" and a use or freeze by date of 06/27/20 and lot code P53935-25.</p><p>1-lb. vacuum packages containing "VALUE PACK FRESH GROUND BEEF 76% LEAN / 24% FAT" and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53930-18.</p>
<p>The potential contamination was discovered during a routine FSIS inspection and there have been no confirmed cases of anyone falling ill from eating the product.</p><p>Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7, the particular strain identified, fall ill two to eight days after eating contaminated food. Symptoms include dehydration, bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps. Most people recover within a week, but some can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a kind of kidney failure signposted by bruising, decreased urination and pallor. Children under five and older adults are especially at risk.</p><p>"Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately," FSIS advised.</p>
<p>The recall comes as the coronavirus has added new safety concerns for the U.S. meat industry. Crowded working conditions have led to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tyson-pork-plant-closes-coronavirus-2646123888.html" target="_self">several outbreaks</a> at U.S. meatpacking plants. As of mid-May, almost half of the virus hotspots in the U.S. were linked to such plants, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/us-coronavirus-meat-packing-plants-food" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>. The virus has killed at least 30 plant workers and more than 10,000 have been sickened or exposed. The risk has also spread to food safety inspectors. As of May 15, four had died and almost 300 had taken time off work due to illness or potential exposure.</p>
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A Tyson plant in Wallula, Washington that has also seen a coronavirus outbreak. David Ryder / Getty Images
A Tyson Foods pork plant in Storm Lake, Iowa announced it would close Thursday after more than 20 percent of its workforce tested positive for the new coronavirus.
<p>The closure comes about a month after President <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/donald-trump" target="_self">Donald Trump</a> <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-orders-meat-plants-open-coronavirus-2645870365.html" target="_self">issued an executive order</a> for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/meat" target="_self">meat</a> processing plants to stay open despite virus outbreaks at several slaughterhouses. Those outbreaks led to the closure of around 20 plants in April, <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-meatpacking/tyson-foods-will-shut-us-pork-plant-as-more-workers-catch-covid-19-idUKKBN23434R" target="_blank">Reuters reported</a>.</p><p>Tyson Foods announced the closure late Thursday, hours after the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) had confirmed 555 coronavirus cases at the plant out of a workforce of 2,517, the <a href="https://eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/28/coronavirus-outbreak-confirmed-tyson-foods-storm-lake-pork-processing-plant-kim-reynolds/5274618002/" target="_blank">Des Moines Register reported</a>.</p>
<div id="3910f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6549fd2dd2cb8add3af93c9edac813da"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1266044429732888576" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">This is out of 2,517 tested, equalling 22% of the workforce at Tyson Pork so far.</div> — The Storm Lake Times (@The Storm Lake Times)<a href="https://twitter.com/SLTimes/statuses/1266044429732888576">1590683488.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>"I honestly feel like the company has failed its employees," Storm Lake League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa Vice President Mayra Lopez told the Des Moines Register. "With 555 cases confirmed, that seems pretty steep."</p><p>Lopez, who has friends and family among the plant's many minority workers, said that she had heard of employees waiting up to a week for coronavirus test results.</p><p>"By the time they get the results, it could be too late and they've passed it on to someone else," she said.</p><p>Tyson Foods said that the closure was due to a delay in testing results and the absence of employees due to quarantine. It said it would stop slaughtering and finish all processing over the next two days.</p><p>"Additional deep cleaning and sanitizing of the entire facility will be conducted before resuming operations later next week," the company said in a press release reported by the Des Moines Register.</p>
<p>The incident has added to concerns about employee safety in meatpacking plants forced to remain open despite the fact that crowded working conditions make social distancing difficult. Tyson said it implemented wide scale testing at the Storm Lake plant and required employees to wear masks, but the <a href="http://www.ufcw.org/" target="_blank">United Food and Commercial Workers International Union</a> (UFCW) said that meat companies and the Trump administration could do more to protect workers, Reuters reported. More than 3,000 U.S. meatpacking workers have tested positive for COVID-19 and 44 have died, the union said.</p><p>"Too many workers are being sent back into meatpacking plants without adequate protections in place, reigniting more outbreaks in the plants and our communities," Nick Nemec, a South Dakota farmer who is part of an advocacy group that works with UFCW, told Reuters.</p><p>Previously, coronavirus outbreaks had forced Tyson Foods to shutter plants in Waterloo, Columbus Junction, and Perry, Iowa, as well as in Dakota City, Nebraska; Logansport, Indiana; and Pasco, Washington, according to the Des Moines Register. However, most of those plants have since reopened, <a href="https://thehill.com/changing-america/resilience/natural-disasters/500016-555-workers-at-tyson-foods-facility-in-iowa" target="_blank">The Hill reported</a>.</p>
<p>In April, Tyson Chairman John Tyson <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/meat-shortages-coronavirus-slaughterhouses-2645861788.html" target="_self">warned</a> that "the food supply chain is breaking." The warning preceded Trump's executive order by two days.</p><p>However, a recent <a href="https://foodandwaterwatch.org/" target="_blank">Food and Water Watch</a> <a href="https://foodandwaterwatch.org/news/USDA-spent-memorial-day-weekend-distorting-meat-production" target="_blank">report</a> has cast doubt on industry claims of shortages. It found that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that cold storage of beef, pork, chicken and turkey was up 2.1 percent in April 2020 compared with April 2019. Further, meat exports have been on the rise in May.</p><p>At the same time, plants have persisted in switching to the New Swine Inspection System, which allows fewer inspectors and faster slaughter speeds. Plants that have switched to this system have seen increased coronavirus cases. One such plant in Guymon, Oklahoma reported 440 cases, the most in the state.</p>
<div id="d73f4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0d3bbf61d6982ac74705a73c51f9c22d"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1265764789948764161" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The USDA's warning of an impending meat shortage was false.
"Claims of impending food shortages are hogwash — meat… https://t.co/1aCs8HtVNM</div> — Food & Water Watch (@Food & Water Watch)<a href="https://twitter.com/foodandwater/statuses/1265764789948764161">1590616817.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>"The USDA itself is showing that industry claims of impending food shortages are hogwash — meat exports are actually increasing and cold storage stockpiles of meat are growing. Meanwhile, the numbers of workers in deregulated plants are proving for us the importance of meat slaughter line speed caps and federal meat inspection," senior government affairs representative for Food & Water Action Tony Corbo said in a statement. "USDA should take a long, hard look in the mirror and reverse course immediately by forcing industry to cap line speeds, follow federal inspection guidelines, mandate worker safety protocols, and keep plants closed as long as necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19."</p>
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Tempeh skewers made from soybeans. AmalliaEka / Getty Images
By Jeannette Cwienk
After the coronavirus spread through a number of slaughterhouses in Germany and the United States, some people might be asking themselves how they can replace meat in their diets.
<p><br/></p>
<p class=""><em>Reposted with permission from </em><em><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/6-of-the-most-sustainable-meat-alternatives/a-53425695?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.</em><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2645998363#/" target="_self"></a></p>
<p>Perhaps they're worried that meat production could collapse if facilities are in lockdown. Or maybe ethical reasons are their main concern.</p><p>The recent revelation that more than 200 workers at a slaughterhouse in western Germany were infected with COVID-19 has <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-modern-slavery-at-the-heart-of-german-slaughterhouse-outbreak/a-53396228" target="_blank">shed light on the catastrophic working conditions</a> in industrial meat production. But it's no secret that the sector harms people, <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/do-vegans-help-prevent-climate-change/a-49992593" target="_blank">the environment and the climate</a>, not to mention the suffering of animals.</p><p>Some 14.5% of human-produced global greenhouse gases <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/resources/en/publications/tackling_climate_change/index.htm" target="_blank">come from the meat production industry</a>. Farm animals and their waste also cause significant environmental damage: cattle produce methane gas that negatively impacts the climate, while enormous quantities of liquid manure put groundwater at risk.</p><p>But meat consumption is increasing worldwide — even in developing countries. And the losses in nutrients are alarming. For example, 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of plant protein are required to feed an animal to get 1 kilogram of protein in the form of meat.</p><p>There are many <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/vegan-meat-the-future-of-planet-saving-plant-based-eating/a-51054861" target="_blank">alternatives to steak and sausages from animals</a> — and most of them are lower in calories, contain no cholesterol, and keep you full for longer.</p>
1. Soy Products: Schnitzel, Tofu, Tempeh
<p>The typical meat substitute in supermarkets in Europe, North America and Australia comes from soy. From burgers and goulash to sliced meat, sausages and cold cuts — a variety of products are seasoned and shaped to resemble animal products. In its native Asia, soy is mostly consumed as the fresh bean, edamame, or as tofu and tempeh.</p><p>The protein content of dried soybeans is significant — about 35-40%. On top of that, the bean contains several essential amino acids that the body needs to absorb protein. But it's also important to point out that the beans' protein content drops to about 12% after cooking. Tofu contains 7-15 grams, while tempeh and soy strips contain 18-20%.</p><p>Besides protein, soybeans also contain many unsaturated fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. By comparison, 100 grams of raw pork has about 18% protein, according to the GU nutrition table.</p><p>Given that 80% of the world's soybean cultivation <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/soy" target="_blank">comes from the United States, Argentina and Brazil</a>, the bean usually travels some distance before it's consumed. But the argument that the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/protecting-paraguays-forests-from-cows-and-soy-farms/a-16700031" target="_blank">rainforest is being cut down for tofu makes little sense</a>, because 80% of the world's soy production is actually used as animal feed. </p><p><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/eu-reaps-healthy-yield-from-us-china-soybean-spat/a-44923688" target="_blank">Farmers in Europe are now also growing soy</a>, although the conditions aren't ideal — the beans come from the subtropics, and so need a warm, humid environment to thrive. Soybeans require less water than meat production, but don't score as well on that front compared to some other legumes. </p>2. Lupins
<p><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/6-of-the-most-sustainable-meat-alternatives/a-53425695?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste" target="_blank">Meat alternatives made from sweet lupins</a> are becoming more popular in Germany, with shredded lupin or lupin steak no longer a rarity on supermarket shelves. Lupins are most commonly used, however, as a substitute for milk, yogurt or eggs. They're also used in gluten-free baking products because they contain no gluten.</p><p>Lupins have an impressively high amount of protein: the plant's dried beans contain at least 40%, as well as various vitamins and minerals. Unlike soybeans, lupins can cope with a dry climate and grow well in lime and sandy soils. That means conditions in Europe are better suited to lupins than soybeans.</p>3. Beans and Beyond
<p><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/can-pulses-conquer-palates-and-save-the-planet/a-19277439" target="_blank">Beans, lentils and peas also have protein in spades</a>. In their dry form, green peas contain around 23%, but that amount shrinks to 8% during cooking. Most types of beans contain 8-10% protein after cooking — more than half that of pork. These legumes aren't available as sausages or cutlets — at least not yet anyway. Still, a bean-based chili sin carne promises a decent amount of protein, as does a spread made from brown lentils instead of Leberwurst, or liver pate. Add green spelt grain, spelt or oat-flakes (17% protein) to this spread, and it becomes even healthier, as well as tasty. That's because these cereals, nuts and seeds are ideal for the absorption of protein.</p><p>All legumes, including soybeans and lupins, have a positive effect on the soil they grow in. They hardly need any fertilizer, since they draw nitrogen from the air with the help of nodule bacteria. They also enrich the earth with humus.</p>4. Seitan – Wheat Protein
<p>This meat substitute consists of wheat gluten. Its slightly fibrous texture means it is mainly used for ready-made meat alternatives. It's produced by mixing flour and water into a dough, followed by repeated rinsing to remove starch until only the protein mass remains. </p><p>As with tofu, a large amount of the vitamins and minerals are lost during this process. And then there are the many flavorings and thickeners that often get added. One advantage Seitan has over soy, though, is that the wheat or spelt it comes from can be grown in many parts of the world.</p>5. Sunflower Seeds
<p>This type of "ground meat" comes from the remnants of sunflower seeds after they've been pressed to extract oil. It contains large amounts of protein, all the essential amino acids and many B vitamins.</p><p>All nuts and seeds generally have a very high protein content. Hemp seeds top the list with more than 31%, closely followed by pumpkin seeds, peanuts (26%), almonds (21%) and sunflower seeds (19%). Nuts and seeds also contain valuable unsaturated fatty acids. This also makes them a good source of energy, in their unpressed form.</p>6. Quorn
<p>This meat substitute, known as Quorn, is made from fermented mold fungus, with added vitamins and egg protein. </p><p>Vegetarians can enjoy it fried, for example, but for vegans this highly processed product isn't an option. Still, its climate footprint is likely smaller than that of a steak, if only because the production of eggs doesn't consume as many resources as that of meat. </p>The B12 Problem
<p>Despite all the advantages that come with plant-based meat substitutes, one essential nutrient is missing: vitamin B12. Only animal products can provide sufficient bioavailable levels of it. The <a href="https://www.dge.de/en/" target="_blank">German Nutrition Society</a> recommends an intake of 3 micrograms per day. That's the equivalent of about 100 grams of beef or salmon, 150 grams of cheese, or half a liter of whole milk. That means those who don't eat animal products have to resort to food supplements to get their daily B12 dose.</p>From Your Site Articles
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Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) take part in the first night of the Democratic presidential debate on June 26, 2019 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
The dangers of working shoulder-to-shoulder in a meat processing plant have come to the forefront as the novel coronavirus has exposed the fragility of the meat industry's supply chain. Factory farming is also resource intensive, leading to deforestation and fueling the climate crisis. It also accounts for 99 percent of the meat that Americans consume.
<p>Last week, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to co-sponsor a bill to put an end to factory farming, as <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/496661-booker-renews-push-to-phase-out-factory-farming-by-2040-after-pandemic-hits" target="_blank">The Hill</a> reported.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/factory-farming-cory-booker-2641652004.html" target="_self">Farm System Reform Act</a> was first proposed by Booker in December. It aims to put a stop to any new factory farms and the monopolistic practices in the industry. It would hold concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) responsible for their environmental impact. Warren agreed to co-sponsor the bill after several incidents of unsafe working conditions and outbreaks of COVID-19 in the meatpacking industry, according to <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/elizabeth-warren-cory-booker-join-forces-bill-ban-most-factory-farming-2040-1502699" target="_blank">Newsweek</a>. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is also co-sponsoring the effort and has introduced companion legislation to the House.</p>
<p>"For years, regulators looked the other way while giant multinational corporations crushed competition in the agriculture sector and seized control over key markets," Warren said in a statement, as <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/elizabeth-warren-cory-booker-join-forces-bill-ban-most-factory-farming-2040-1502699" target="_blank">Newsweek</a> reported. "The COVID-19 crisis will make it easier for Big Ag to get even bigger, gobble up smaller farms, and lead to fewer choices for consumers."</p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the tight control that a handful of companies have on the entire meat supply chain. As Booker's office noted in a <a href="https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/as-pandemic-exposes-major-weaknesses-in-meatpacking-industry-sen-warren-rep-khanna-cosponsor-sen-bookers-farm-system-reform-act-to-fix-broken-system" target="_blank">statement</a>, "four companies control nearly 85 percent of the US beef market. Pork and chicken supply are similarly consolidated. Such concentration makes the food chain extremely fragile."</p>
<p>As <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/496661-booker-renews-push-to-phase-out-factory-farming-by-2040-after-pandemic-hits" target="_blank">The Hill</a> reported, the legislation directly targets multinational meat producing giants, like Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods and JBS, all of which had severe coronavirus outbreaks among workers in the last month. Those outbreaks have led to fears of a meat shortage in the U.S., as Costco and Kroger have limited how much beef customers can buy, and some Wendy's chains ran out of hamburger patties.</p><p>In response to the shuttered meat processing facilities, President Trump used the Defense Production Act to keep plants with outbreaks open despite the risks for employees, who often work side-by-side.</p>
<p>However, Booker noted that the problems in the meat industry existed well before the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p>"Our food system was not broken by the pandemic and it was not broken by independent family farmers. It was broken by large, multinational corporations like Tyson, Smithfield, and JBS that, because of their buying power and size, have undue influence over the marketplace and over public policy," Booker said in a <a href="https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/as-pandemic-exposes-major-weaknesses-in-meatpacking-industry-sen-warren-rep-khanna-cosponsor-sen-bookers-farm-system-reform-act-to-fix-broken-system" target="_blank">statement</a>. "That undue influence was on full display with President Trump's recent executive order prioritizing meatpacker profits over the health and safety of workers."</p><p>Under the Farm System Reform Act, the largest CAFOs would be phased out entirely by 2040. Medium and small-sized operations would not be prohibited, although voluntary buyouts would be offered for farmers who want to cease factory farming, as <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/elizabeth-warren-cory-booker-join-forces-bill-ban-most-factory-farming-2040-1502699" target="_blank">Newsweek</a> reported. The bill would also invest $100 billion over ten years to help CAFO owners transition to more sustainable forms of agriculture.</p><p>"Giant meatpackers cannot be permitted to continue to profit off of the labor of family farmers, consolidating the food industry to the point that our supply chain is threatened," said Khanna, as <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/496661-booker-renews-push-to-phase-out-factory-farming-by-2040-after-pandemic-hits" target="_blank">The Hill</a> reported. "Congress must step in to ensure an honest market, or risk losing another historic industry to the hands of big corporations."</p>
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Beyond Burger in the fresh meat section of a supermarket on July 10, 2019. UBC Media Relations / CC BY 2.0
While meat processing facilities shut down and cause shortages in the beef and pork supply chains, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are seeing a spike in sales during the coronavirus pandemic, as The Hill reports.
<p>Beyond Meat has seen its shares soar 134 percent since mid-March, as retailers request rushed deliveries to refill shelves across the country, a company spokesperson said, as <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/impossible-foods-beyond-meat-see-spike-in-demand-as-coronavirus-wreaks-havoc-on-meat-supply-2020-05-05" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a> reported. Beyond Meat shares shot up 26 percent in trading Wednesday.</p><p>A 141 percent jolt in first-quarter revenue and profit "exceeded our expectations despite an increasingly challenging operating environment due to the COVID-19 health crisis," said Ethan Brown, chief executive of Beyond Meat, in a <a href="https://investors.beyondmeat.com/news-releases/news-release-details/beyond-meatr-reports-first-quarter-2020-financial-results?mod=article_inline" target="_blank">statement</a> announcing the results, as <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/impossible-foods-beyond-meat-see-spike-in-demand-as-coronavirus-wreaks-havoc-on-meat-supply-2020-05-05" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a> reported.</p>
<p>Similarly, Impossible Foods, which is not a publicly traded company, announced that demand for its Impossible Burger has "skyrocketed among home chefs," according to <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/5/5/21247286/plant-based-meat-coronavirus-pandemic-impossible-burger-beyond" target="_blank">Vox</a>. It will start selling its burgers at Kroger's 1,700 stores nationwide, a huge increase from the 150 stores that sold its burgers at the start of 2020. In total, its <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/vegan">plant-based</a> meat is available at 2,700 U.S. grocery stores, including Albertsons, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriacheng/2020/05/05/with-crimped-animal-meat-supply-coronavirus-may-open-big-consumer-appetite-for-plant-based-meat-from-beyond-meat-impossible-foods/#7bf6ad662920" target="_blank">Forbes</a>.</p><p>"Our existing retail partners have achieved record sales of Impossible Burger in recent weeks," said the company's president, Dennis Woodside, in a statement, as <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/5/5/21247286/plant-based-meat-coronavirus-pandemic-impossible-burger-beyond" target="_blank">Vox</a> reported. "We expect our retail footprint to expand more than 50-fold in 2020 alone, and we are moving as quickly as possible to expand with additional outlets and in more retail channels."</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/5/5/21247286/plant-based-meat-coronavirus-pandemic-impossible-burger-beyond" target="_blank">Vox</a>, the way Impossible Foods manufactures its products protects it from the worst of the pandemic. "Its supply chain is obviously unaffected by recent meat plant closures, and its workers are not contracting Covid-19 at high rates because they do not have to work shoulder to shoulder like their meatpacking counterparts."</p><p>"We've always planned on a dramatic surge in retail for 2020 — but with more and more Americans eating at home under 'shelter-in-place' orders, we've received requests from retailers and consumers alike," Impossible Foods President Dennis Woodside said in a statement, as <a href="https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/496334-demand-for-plant-based-meat-soars-during-coronavirus" target="_blank">The Hill</a> reported.</p>
<p>Now that Costco and Kroger are limiting the amount of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/meat-consumption" target="_self">meat</a> people can buy, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are looking to fill in the gaps by offering bulk products. In an earnings call on Tuesday, Brown said that Beyond Meat is introducing lower-priced bulk value packs to grocers as they struggle with supply shortages of animal protein, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriacheng/2020/05/05/with-crimped-animal-meat-supply-coronavirus-may-open-big-consumer-appetite-for-plant-based-meat-from-beyond-meat-impossible-foods/#7bf6ad662920" target="_blank">Forbes</a>.</p><p>"Our biggest focus is to provide solutions for consumers as they have meat disruptions," Brown said on the call. "There is an opportunity for consumers to be aware of a different model. There are more opportunities to be relevant to customers."</p>The move away from animal-protein, which is resource-intensive to grow and raise, making it a leading cause of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis" target="_self">climate crisis</a>, has helped Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods make headway into new markets. Starbucks in China has started to sell Beyond Meat.
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Slashing U.S. Meat Consumption by Half Could Cut Diet-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 35%, Study Finds
01 May
Climate
People queue to buy vegan food at a food truck during the Calais Vegan Festival organized by the French association Farplace on Sept. 8, 2018, in Calais. PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP via Getty Images
By Andrea Germanos
A new study highlights how addressing U.S. diets could help tackle the climate crisis, finding that if Americans cut their consumption of animal-based foods by half, it could prevent 1.6 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
<p>The <a href="http://css.umich.edu/publication/implications-future-us-diet-scenarios-greenhouse-gas-emissions" target="_blank">study</a> was conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and Tulane University and was commissioned by <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/conservation">conservation</a> group Center for Biological Diversity.</p><p>Gradually swapping out by 2030 half of all animal-based foods — including beef, eggs and dairy — for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/vegetarian">plant-based</a> foods such as legumes and soy products could result in a 35% decrease in U.S. diet-related emissions, estimated the study. That equals a decline of roughly 224 million metric tons of emissions per year in 2030 — the equivalent of the annual emissions of 47.5 million passenger vehicles, said the researchers.</p>
<p>If U.S. beef consumption is also cut by 90%, the climate benefits could be even bigger, the analysis found.</p><p>That further-reaching change has the potential to bring about a 51% reduction in U.S. dietary-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) by leading to a cumulative decrease of 2.4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.</p><p>Those possible changes are due to the heavy carbon footprint of the average U.S. diet. From the study:</p><p>The total emissions associated with producing the average U.S. diet amounts to 5.0 kg CO2 eq. per person per day. Whereas red meat (beef, pork, lamb) represents 9% of the calories available from this diet, it contributes 47% of the GHGE. All animal-based foods combined (red meat, poultry, fish/seafood, eggs, dairy and animal based fats) represent 82% of the baseline diet GHGE.</p><p>"While a diet shift isn't a silver bullet, it could play an important role in curbing climate change," Martin Heller, lead author of the study and a research specialist at University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems at the School for Environment and Sustainability, said in a statement. "This research shows that replacing only half of our animal-based food consumption with plant-based alternatives could account for nearly a quarter of the reductions necessary for the U.S. to meet a Paris Agreement target," Heller said.</p>
<p>The Trump administration formally <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/04/delivering-catastrophic-message-moment-great-urgency-trump-formally-begins-ditching" target="_blank">withdrew</a> from the global climate accord last year.</p><p>Stephanie Feldstein, population and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability">sustainability</a> director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the study provided clear steps for how to rein in planet-heating emissions.</p><p>"Moving the American appetite from our burger-heavy diet to plant-based eating is a powerful and necessary part of curbing the climate crisis," she said. "The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the meat supply chain's vulnerabilities, but our food system faces even greater long-term threats from climate change. We desperately need policymakers to support sustainable diets and a resilient food system."</p><p>To help that effort, the Center for Biological Diversity has also put out a policy <a href="https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/climate/Climate-Diet-report.html" target="_blank">guide</a> outlining steps U.S. policymakers can take to successfully lower diet-related emissions.</p><p>At the federal level, the document states, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans should emphasize the importance of plant-based foods (including for protein), and urge reductions in meat and dairy consumption. At the municipal level, policymakers can enact policies to boost the "availability and acceptance of plant-based options."</p><p>"By bringing together food policy and climate policy," says the guide, "governments can provide a foundation for a healthy, climate-friendly food system."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/04/30/slashing-us-meat-consumption-half-could-cut-diet-related-greenhouse-gas-emissions-35" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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