Trouble in Big Food: America's cereal, soda and soup companies are in turmoil
Big Food is not having big fun this year. Consumers’ tastes have changed, and traditional cereal, soda, soup and other food companies have not kept up. The consumer staples sector, down 13 percent this year, could have its worse year in a decade. Small competitors have been stealing market share for several years, and inflation is taking its toll. Read more at CNN.com …
Rice, the staple food of billions, could become less nutritious because of climate change
Greenhouse gases could make rice less nutrition, a coalition of researchers from around the world has found. When growing rice is exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide, it contains lower levels of important vitamins and minerals, including B1, B9, iron and zinc. The rice in the study was exposed to higher concentrations of carbon dioxide than currently exist in our atmosphere, but study levels could be reached within the next 100 years. Read more at The Washington Post …
Landmark lawsuit claims Monsanto hid cancer danger of weed killer for decades
If he lives long enough, a 46-year-old California father of three could become the first person to take Monsanto to court with the argument that the company hid the dangers of its Roundup herbicide, which includes glyphosate. During the trial—scheduled to begin Jun 18—jurors will decide if the product caused DeWayne Johnson’s cancer, and consider whether the company hid the dangers of using it. Read more at The Guardian …
P&G using technology to peel back curtain on thousands of products on the shelf
What’s in your laundry detergent, shampoo, face cream, diapers and feminine-care products? If you buy Procter & Gamble products, you can now find out via the SmartLabel app, looking on the company’s website or calling a toll-free number. The consumer goods behemoth is offering detailed ingredient lists and other information on more than 3,500 of its products. Read more at Cincinnati Business Courier …
Exclusive: Gene-edited super-crops to be grown in UK for the first time
Sliding through a legal loophole, British scientists have received approval to modify Camelina oilseed crops to produce omega-3 fish oils—the first gene-edited crops allowed in Europe. The British government approved the pilot program because it involves altering the plant’s genetic code, not introducing a foreign DNA. Read more at The Telegraph …
