The ‘natural’ beauty industry is on the rise because we’re scared of chemicals

Consumers are increasingly becoming wary of using traditional cosmetics, which generally are made of chemical ingredients whose safety is questionable. High-profile lawsuits have added to the concerns, and the Food and Drug Administration has little control of the beauty industry. Read more at Vox.com …

Can an investment firm help increase U.S. organic farmland?

Investment firm Iroquois Valley Farms is determined to increase the acreage of organic farmland and ranges in the United States. The Evanston, Illinois-based B Corp. leases property to 53 farms but wants to reach 500 farms in the next five years. Read more at Civil Eats …

Marijuana extracts to be imported for medical study at University of California

The University of California, San Diego’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research has received approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration to import marijuana extracts from Canada for a medical study. The center will import capsules of CBD and THC from a British Columbia company to see if they effectively treat essential tremors. Read more at The San Diego Union-Tribune …

Amazon Go opens first Chicago location of its cashierless convenience store

When Amazon’s first Go store outside of Seattle opened on Monday, Chicago shoppers lined up—not to pay, just to get in. Employees were on hand to answer questions, and shoppers seemed impressed with the healthy options as well as the prices. Read more at the Chicago Tribune …

Canada's artificial trans fats ban comes into effect — with a phase-out period

Fifteen years after the Canadian parliament banned artificial trans fats from the country’s food supply, the prohibition went into effect on Monday. Partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of trans fats in pastries, baked goods and some packaged foods, raise the levels of “bad” cholesterol in consumers. Read more at CBC.ca …