Weekend Reading: Manufacturers Feed America
The National Association of Manufacturers released a report titled “Manufacturers Feed America,” warning that a wave of state‑level ingredient bans, warning labels, and disclosure mandates could raise food prices and trigger job losses. The report argues that complying with divergent state rules would force manufacturers to produce multiple product versions, inflating costs and disrupting supply chains. It positions the U.S. food and beverage sector as the nation’s largest manufacturing industry, emphasizing its role in community health and economic growth. NAM frames the issue as a conflict between hazard‑focused regulation and risk‑based science.
What’s Happening to Beyond Meat?
Beyond Meat, the plant‑based protein pioneer, continues to bleed cash, reporting $1.2 billion in accumulated losses and a cost‑to‑revenue ratio of $1.95 for every $1 sold in 2025, up from $1.32 in 2024. The company has never turned a profit, prompting...
Industry-Funded Study of the Week: Taurine Supplements
Nestlé’s research unit conducted a double‑blind, crossover trial with 44 healthy adults aged 25‑40, testing a blend of taurine and vitamins B6, B9, and B12. After 14 days of daily supplementation, participants reported significant gains in motivation, attention, mental energy...
Weekend Reading: More on Alternative Meats
Alternative‑protein companies are navigating a shifting landscape as the European Union bans the use of the term “meaty” for plant‑ and cell‑based foods, while U.S. investors grow impatient for clearer paths to profitability. The ban, which still allows words like...
New School Food Rules on the Horizon?
The USDA is preparing to roll out new MAHA dietary guidelines that could reshape school nutrition standards. Advocacy groups, including United We Eat, are pressing the agency to tighten rules around processed animal products, citing additives, antibiotics, and cancer‑linked preservatives....
HHS Issues New Guidelines for Food Served in Hospitals
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a memo directing hospitals to align their food service policies with the 2025‑2030 Dietary Guidelines. The rules require eliminating ultra‑processed foods, sugary drinks, refined grains, and processed meats, while mandating...
Industry-Funded Study of the Week: Kimchi
A May 2026 study in Bioresource Technology found that lactic‑acid bacteria isolated from kimchi can bind nanoplastic particles in the intestines of germ‑free mice, more than doubling the amount of plastic expelled in feces. The research was financially supported by...
Weekend Reading: AI’s Analysis of Soda and Alcohol Marketing on Social Media
Vital Strategies' Canary platform used AI to analyze soda and alcohol marketing on social media. It found Coca‑Cola appeared in 795 posts during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, generating about 6 billion impressions, while digital alcohol ads posted nearly 4,000...
USDA’s Newest Label: Made in America
The USDA announced a new voluntary "Product of USA" label for meat, poultry and egg products that meet strict domestic‑origin criteria. To qualify, animals must be born, raised, harvested and processed entirely within the United States. The label is part...
Front-of-Package Label Designs: Which One Works Best?
A recent randomized controlled trial evaluated several front‑of‑package (FOP) nutrition label designs, including the FDA’s proposed format and a multi‑high‑in label used in Latin America. The multi‑high‑in label—featuring color‑coded red, yellow, and green signals—significantly outperformed the FDA version in helping...
What’s Happening with Infant Formula?
Infant formula is under heightened scrutiny as contamination scandals and heavy‑metal findings erode consumer trust. RFK Jr. is pressuring the FDA to ban high‑fructose corn syrup and seed oils, while new entrant Little Spoon touts stricter ingredient testing in full‑page ads....