Glyphosate found in 19 of 20 beers and wines tested

A new study has found that the divisive active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller is present in nearly 20 popular beers and wines—even brands of the organic variety. Popular beer brands such as Coors Light, Miller Lite and Budweiser all tested above 25 ppb, and the merlot that topped the list was found to contain 51.4 ppb of the substance. Though the amounts found “were far below the safety limits for glyphosate set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” as one Bayer toxicologist reported to CBS News, the study itself noted that chemicals of this nature aren’t necessarily safe just because a regulatory agency says so. Read more at Eco Watch …

City Council weighs bills to label sugary menu items

Public health experts testified this week in favor of City Council bills “that would help consumers spot some food and drinks that are high in sugar at chain restaurants.” This would necessitate clear signs on the risks of sugar and carbohydrates on menu items for pre-diabetic and diabetic patrons, as well as making nutritional beverages such as water and nonfat milk the default drink options for kids’ meals. One assistant commissioner at the city Health Department told the council that reducing consumption of sugary drinks “is a top agency priority,” as New York City’s rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to climb. Read more at Crains New York …

Meet the executives who have made Netflix food TV

Netflix’s food-related content endeavors have inarguably surpassed Food Network in terms of cultural relevance—but how did that happen? According to this article, one reason is Netflix’s use of food as the canvas for a much broader story (as exemplified by its Chef’s Table series), which reinvigorated the decades-old cooking show format and inspired multiple successful copycats. The company also invested in food competition shows with “unique” perspectives, thus effectively targeting the reality sector as well. Lastly, the streaming service took on instructional shows—including Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat—that explore “humanity and culture through the lens of how and what we eat.” Read more at Fast Company …

The race to grow a more planet-friendly burger

Cellular agriculture startups across the globe are fiercely competing to bring the first cruelty-free, tasty and affordable lab-grown meat to market. These companies are already up against a formidable competitor: plant-based, heme-containing meat that pretty successfully mimics the mouthfeel and taste of regular meat. No lab-grown meat startups have yet announced a launch date, though, mainly because of widespread confusion surrounding FDA regulations coupled with the meat industry's increased ire over whether plant-based and cell-cultured "meat" companies alike should be able to advertise their products to consumers as meat. Read more at Technology Review …

Earth Fare eyes Tampa Bay growth with plans to more than double its footprint

Earth Fare may be upping its footprint in Tampa Bay within the next two years, in spite of the saturation of grocery stores in the area. The company’s first Tampa Bay location marks their 51^st store, and Earth Fare CEO Frank Scorpiniti attributes its success to stringent standards when it comes to potentially harmful ingredients and selling products at a “very compelling value” while also offering consumers luxury products that are worth the bump in price. Read more at The Tampa Bay Times …