Will consumers flake on the Kellogg's cereal boycott?

Kellogg's is facing some pretty severe consumer criticism and earnest calls to boycott its many brands, but negative public opinion isn't always enough to create lasting change for workers. As easy as it may be for consumers to swap out a breakfast cereal in a show of support to striking workers, Kellogg’s decision to replace employees brings into question the effectiveness of consumer boycotts, especially for a such a far-reaching brand, Eater writes. Consumers who oppose its decision are likely going to reach for a Kellogg's product at some point without even realizing it.

Which technologies will push the food industry forward?

In this roundup of expert opinions out of The Food Institute, industry professionals talk about the food-related technology they believe has serious sticking power. Self-checkout technology obviously grew in popularity during the pandemic, and 15-minute delivery appears to be something of a new standard for food delivery startups. Another thing to expect more of: dark stores that work as fulfillment centers. Drone delivery might still have a ways to go!

As omicron spreads, health experts push for mask mandates. But few states have one

It's no secret that Americans are mentally exhausted of COVID-19. But, NPR notes, we can't risk that leading to hesitancy regarding mask mandates as a terrifying new variant sweeps the globe, or we risk long-lasting surges of the illness across the country. And there is a growing body of evidence that masks in particular can help curb transmission as opposed to, for instance, sanitizing surfaces regularly. What's also troubling is the difference across counties in terms of these mask mandates; many experts believe a blanket mandate either state- or nationwide could both prevent transmission from getting worse and reduce confusion on the part of citizens.

Purpose at work: How Nobell Foods says 'cheese'—and thinks plants

San Francisco-based Nobell Foods has developed patented tech that genetically engineers casein — the protein that gives cheese its cheesiness — from high-grade soybeans. Forbes profiles its founder and CEO Magi Richani, who believes her product will upend the plant-based cheese world as we know it precisely because of the product's similarity to real, animal-derived cheese. One of Nobell’s major funders is ESG-focused FootPrint Coalition Ventures, a series of rolling venture capital funds focused on sustainable technology, and founded by producer, actor, and investor Robert Downey Jr.

The world as we know it is ending. Why are we still at work?

This Vox article sums up The Great Resignation pretty darn well: "After more than 20 months of being asked to keep showing up uncomplainingly while everything crumbles around them, people are demanding a more humane approach to work in the age of interlocking crises." Employees are quitting their jobs in record numbers, joining unions and speaking out about the importance of prioritizing mental health in the workplace as a result. But, per the article, the chaotic and dark conditions everyone coexists within today are an opportunity to remake American culture around an ethic of care rather than productivity; what's also clear is that the natural products industry and its conscious capitalism ethos is key to helping bring about this shift.