Milk co-ops slaughtered 500,000 cows via a 'retirement' program. Now they'll pay $220M in a price-fixing lawsuit
America's largest dairy cooperatives have chosen to settle a yearslong, class-action price-fixing lawsuit for $220 million. These co-ops allegedly raised prices by paying farmers to slaughter 500,000 cows prematurely as part of a "herd retirement program that encouraged producers to shift their cows from dairy to beef production" in order to restrict supply. Read more at New Food Economy...
Food delivery and takeout are on the rise. So are the mountains of trash they create
Food-delivery services such as DoorDash and Uber Eats are contributing more and more to the over 80.1 million tons of municipal waste generated in the U.S. alone–and recycling programs stateside aren't the silver bullet consumers often believe they are. In light of these facts, several innovative companies have sprung up to take the hassle out of incorporating reusable cups, silverware and plates into time-strapped consumers' lives. Read more at Vox...
Beyond Burgers are coming to Costco
Select Costco locations will soon begin stocking Beyond Meat's popular plant-based meat alternatives. The move marks another retail giant's efforts to get in on the projected $140 billion in sales that the alternative meat sector is expected to reach over the next decade. Read more at CNN...
UNFI makes deals for 13 Shoppers stores; 4 more to close
United Natural Foods Inc. is selling more of the Shoppers locations it gained after acquiring Supervalu to three different buyers. Following the sales, members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 criticized UNFI for making the deal without seeking their input. Read more at Winsight Grocery Business...
Nestlé cannot claim bottled water is 'essential public service,' court rules
Osceola township in Michigan is celebrating after a recent court ruling thwarted another of Nestlé's attempts to privatize sovereign public water. This could, in turn, impact a state permit that lets the company increase its extraction amount to 400 gallons per minute–faster than the aquifer can replenish, according to some activists. Read more at The Guardian...
