Food & beverage trends, regulation, labeling, innovation

Headlines

Alan Perlstein on coffee from plant cell culture: 'We’re researching varietals that are very difficult to grow, that have unique flavors and which sell at a pretty high cost per cup...’ Image credit: California Cultured

'Plant cell culture is now emerging from a very cold winter...' Cell-cultured chocolate startup California Cultured turns attention to coffee

Microbes can produce a host of ingredients traditionally made by plants or animals more sustainably and efficiently. But if you want to make complex plant-based ingredients such as coffee or cocoa, single-celled microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria aren’t going to cut it, says Davis, CA-based startup California Cultured. Which is where plant cell culture comes in, says co-founder and CEO Alan Perlstein.

Zevia grows and diversifies consumer base: 'We're seeing very limited price sensitivity,' says CEO

In the face of an unrelenting inflationary environment, zero sugar soda brand Zevia is reporting continued growth and consumer adoption of its products, especially in the club channel.

Prices for key food commodities remain high even as overall wholesale costs dip

In another sign that inflation may be peaking, wholesale prices fell month-over-month for the first time in July since April 2020, but commodities remain significantly higher than last year, suggesting it may be well into next year before food manufacturers...

Food prices continue to climb, prompting some shoppers to rethink grocery budgets

While overall inflation in the US cooled slightly in July, giving hope to some economists that financial pressures may be peaking, food prices continue to climb at their fastest rate in more than 40 years – suggesting the economic recovery still has a...

Majority of immune supplements bought on Amazon found to have labels that don’t match contents

A study published yesterday by a group that included researchers from the University of Mississippi found that fewer than half of 30 immune supplements bought on Amazon had labels that accurately reflected their contents.

Which Reb M production method is best for the environment? Ingredion LCA probes stevia sustainability metrics

What’s more sustainable? Using acres of land, water and energy to grow plants that produce minuscule quantities of natural sweeteners; or making them via a fermentation process using a microbe that’s been engineered to produce exactly the same molecules?

Don Lee’s “vindictive and retaliatory” claims vs Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown are “not grounded in law or fact

'Blind fury' prompted former co-packer's recent lawsuit over protein content and methylcellulose, argues Beyond Meat

A lawsuit* recently filed by former co-packer Don Lee Farms accusing Beyond Meat of “grossly” overstating the protein in its products is motivated by “personal vendetta" and should be seen as a “transparent attempt to gain leverage” on the eve of...