Wild relatives of popular vegetables are in trouble

A new paper reveals that 16 wild relatives of the gourd family are "inadequately protected and generally lack representation in gene banks." This, in turn, puts widely cultivated crops at risk because they need the genetic diversity of their wild relatives to adapt to sudden changes in climate–an increasingly common occurence. Read more at Modern Farmer... 

PETA bought stock in Starbucks to help vegans save 80 cents on nondairy milk

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has become a shareholder of Starbucks Corporation with plans to protest the company's upcharge of 80 cents for its nondairy milk options. PETA cites lactose intolerance and cruelty to dairy cows as two reasons why consumers would choose to forgo regular milk, and the group's executive vice president noted in a press release that "a single cow emits more [methane-gas emissions] than a car does." Read more at Fast Company...

Rainwater in parts of US contains high levels of PFAs chemical, says study

Rainwater in some areas of the U.S. contain enough polyfluoralkyl substances to the point where it could affect human health; in one sample from Massachusetts, the total concentration of PFAS chemicals was nearly 5.5 nanograms per liter of rainwater (some states have put a limit of 2 nanograms per liter on levels of these chemicals in drinking water). Experts suggest that PFAS chemicals are entering rainwater through both industrial emissions and evaporation from PFAS-containing fire-fighting foams. Read more at The Guardian...

Plant-based chicken that actually pulls and tastes like chicken is here

The taste and texture of chicken has long eluded plant-based meat-makers–but no longer. Daring Foods appears to have hit the mark in terms of "a chicken alternative that mimics chicken in texture and taste." It's made of only five ingredients and the creators are, like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, planning on marketing it toward consumers with flexitarian lifestyles. Read more at Thrillist...

Food tech took two steps forward, two steps back in the 2010s

Here is a roundup of the past decade's biggest hits and misses in terms of U.S. food tech innovations. Yes, plant-based meat and dairy took massive strides toward widespread consumer acceptance–but remember when Soylent tried to replace food and caused a wave of illnesses? It's all here in a convenient news roundup.  Read more at Eater...