TOP NEWS THIS WEEK
Plant-Based Meat Taste Study Shows Progress: A study by NECTAR reveals encouraging developments in plant-based meat alternatives. While 70% of U.S. adults have either never tried plant-based meat or eaten it only a few times, consumers consistently cite taste and texture similarity as their primary considerations. The study found that plant-based chicken nuggets have achieved and even exceeded the taste of conventional products. Other categories show promise too, with leading plant-based tenders and bacon products coming within one satisfaction point of their animal-based counterparts. This suggests that continued improvement in taste and texture could dramatically increase adoption of animal-free options. Read The Good Food Institute’s study.
Asia Pacific Investment in Alternative Foods Surges: The Asia-Pacific region has seen an 85% increase in investments in innovative foods, including cultivated meat, seaweed, and and plant-based proteins, reaching $204 million in 2024. This growth signals increasing recognition of the need to move away from conventional animal agriculture and the region’s growing commitment to alternative food production. Unfortunately, at the same time countries in the region are also investing in insect foods. Learn more on Vegconomist.
Scholarships for Teens Who Promote Veganism
Vegan Students Eligible for $50,000 in Scholarships: The Vegetarian Resource Group has announced college scholarships for high school seniors who promote veganism. The awards include one $10,000 scholarship and six $5,000 scholarships. Past winners include students who successfully advocated for vegan options in school cafeterias and organized community outreach programs. Deadline is February 20, 2025.
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Finland Updates National Dietary Guidelines
Finland’s Food Authority is recommending reduced meat consumption in their new dietary guidelines. The guidelines suggest limiting red meat to 350g weekly – down from the previous 500g – while emphasizing that even less would be better for both health and environmental reasons. Although the guidelines don’t mention animals, animals will benefit from this public policy change. The recommendations also promote increased consumption of plant-based foods, suggesting 500-800g of vegetables, fruits, and berries daily. Read an overview of the changes on yle.fi.
DID YOU KNOW?
The world’s first approval of lab-grown meat for human consumption occurred in 2020 when Singapore approved cultivated chicken. Cultivated meat starts with a few animal cells and grows them in a lab. This decision opened the door for alternatives to animal agriculture and demonstrated how safe technology can help create a more ethical food system. Since then, the U.S. and Hong Kong have also approved cultivated meat products, and plans are underway for cultured fish in South Korea. These foods can be found at a few restaurants, but the capacity to manufacture it on a large scale does not exist yet.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
National dietary guidelines often focus on health and environmental impacts while avoiding ethical considerations about animal exploitation. Should government recommendations explicitly address the moral implications of consuming animals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Stay informed and keep advocating for a more vegan world. See you next week with more updates!
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