Each day at 5 p.m. we collect the five top food and supplement headlines of the day, making it easy for you to catch up on today's most important natural products industry news.

July 14, 2020

2 Min Read
5@5: USDA fights organic fraud | Is indoor farming the future?
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USDA unveils new rules to combat organic fraud

The United States Department of Agriculture revealed a new draft proposed rule last week that updates organic regulations to include mandatory unannounced inspections, new traceability requirements for imported products and new oversight for the certification process. It remains to be seen whether this new rule will translate to higher costs for small-scale farmers or shoppers. Read more at The Counter

 

Is the future of farming indoors?

The ripple effects of COVID-19 have limited many peoples' access to food, especially in countries that were already food insecure or those that were hit especially hard by the virus. As a result, indoor farming technology is becoming increasingly popular for its cost effectiveness, lack of chemicals and scalability anywhere in the world. Read more at Forbes

 

New Amazon grocery units to feature proprietary dash carts

Amazon's forthcoming grocery stores will implement the Amazon Dash Cart, which scans barcoded items as they enter the basket in place of a traditional checkout model. There is also a screen on the cart's handle which gives shoppers a way to view what is in their cart and check items off as well as the subtotal. Read more at Winsight Grocery Business

 

How COVID-19 derailed the fight against plastic waste

When COVID-19 first emerged, single-use plastic was deemed safer than reusable options. However, a study published in April found that the virus actually lasts longer on plastic than it does on paper or cardboard. Activists fear that encouragement on the part of the plastic industry will make it hard to get consumers back on track as an environmental crisis looms. Read more at The Guardian

 

The world drinks less coffee while office workers stay home

Global coffee consumption is expected to fall this year for the first time since 2011, largely because of mandatory shutdowns for cafes and restaurants. And those consumers who are partaking are drinking cheaper, instant coffee at home and avoiding cafes, meaning it could be another few months before the coffee business regains its momentum. Read more at Bloomberg

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