Whole Foods vs. vegans: Berkeley store gets restraining order against activists

The animal rights activist organization Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) was legally barred from entering a Berkeley Whole Foods mere days before activists began a weeklong protest of parent company Amazon. Whole Foods has stated that the group’s disruptive tactics, including mimicking animal slaughter with fellow members and splattering eggs with fake blood, are dangerous for both its employees and customers. Read more at The Guardian ...

A mushroom extract might save bees from a killer virus

The worst of the parasitic RNA viruses plaguing bee colonies nationwide, referred to as ‘deformed wing virus,’ may have found its antidote in the form of amadou and reishi mushrooms. While it has long been known these traditional medicine favorites contain powerful antiviral properties, scientists are now discovering that colonies fed reishi and amadou extract have a greatly reduced risk of DWV, as well as many other diseases currently posing a threat to honeybee populations. Read more at Wired …

There’s only one way for grass-fed cattle to be a sustainable farming practice

The market for grass-fed cattle has increased enormously, even as overall beef sales continue to decline. While some might imagine that the beef industry is taking a turn for the ethical, however, the desire for grass-fed beef puts us in other precarious situations. Among these are an eventual scarcity of pastures for the cows, the greater length of time it takes for these cows to fatten to industry standards, more cows being needed to meet demand, and crop competition that would infallibly lead to shortages. Read more at Huffington Post ...

Why scientists should be tracking a catastrophic pig disease

African swine fever, a disease that has currently killed more than 300,000 pigs across Europe and Asia, is going largely unnoticed because of its inability to infect humans. The virus is one that persists in the meat itself, however, and humans are the likely cause for its widespread comeback. Should the disease make it to the U.S., the compiled costs could amount to almost $2 billion, as was seen in 2013 during the porcine diarrhea virus epidemic. Read more at Wired …

Which big consumer product companies really are entering the cannabis industry?

Cannabis-derived products have long been taboo on a global scale, and many influential CPG companies are just now getting around to seriously considering setting foot the cannabis space. This is largely due to the explosive and obvious potential of CBD. While products containing psychoactive THC hold no real interest for companies such as Coke, these companies will be able to infuse drinks and other products with healthy CBD derived from hemp should the current farm bill with provisions for legalizing hemp pass. Read more at NewsTimes …