5@5: Bayer reaches $10.5B Roundup settlement | High levels of arsenic in Whole Foods' bottled water

Bayer reaches $10.5B settlement over weedkiller Roundup

Bayer affirmed this week that it has reached a $10.5 billion deal to settle the tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that the company's glyphosate-based Roundup herbicide causes cancer. However, the company plans to continue selling the product without making any changes to the label, which may leave it vulnerable to a second wave of lawsuits. Read more at The Wall Street Journal…

High levels of arsenic found in US Whole Foods’ bottled water brand

Whole Foods-manufactured Starkey Spring Water has been shown to contain a "concerning" level of arsenic, ranging from 9.49 to 9.56 parts per billion. The Federal Drug Administration, notably, has not updated its standards for bottled water in 15 years, although more recent studies have linked higher levels of arsenic consumption with certain cancers and heart disease, among other ailments. Read more at The Guardian…

Starbucks partners with Impossible to sell plant-based breakfast sandwich

Starbucks announced it will begin selling a plant-based breakfast sandwich using Impossible sausage on its summer menu. This marks the first time the chain has added an environmentally friendly meat alternative to its food menu. Representatives stated that the move will help Starbucks reach the sustainability goals it announced in January 2020. Read more at CNBC…

The problems with palm oil don't start with my recipes

Widespread criticism of palm oil as an ingredient often fails to consider the colonial systems that have evolved alongside global trade. The unrefined variety is a key part of many Africans' lives and does little harm when harvested on a small scale. The palm oil debate, however, seems to "make regions on the other side of the globe the first to be implicated for the crimes of an industry that includes all of us." Read more at Heated…

The seed of an idea: How buckwheat, hemp, chia and flax are taking over

Seeds are the heroes of the cross-section of organic, plant-based and nutritionally dense fare—which is why experts expect this market to grow considerably over the next few years. Brands are also successfully marketing them in a variety of forms, including protein supplements, cooking oils and yogurt toppers. Read more at Entrepreneur…