5@5: Virginia law restricts use of 'milk' by plant-based alternatives | Monsanto, BASF were prepared for dicamba disaster

Dairy lobby fights back with a new definition of the word 'milk'

Virginia has banned plant-based dairy alternatives from using the word "milk" on labeling or to market their products. The legislature defines real milk exclusively as "the lacteal secretion of a healthy, hooved mammal."  Read more at The Guardian…

Dicamba on trial: Internal docs show Monsanto, BASF prepared for drift complaints prior to dicamba launch

A civil trial is going on regarding Monsanto and BASF's preparation for complaints about its controversial weedkiller, dicamba, before it even reached shelves. The two German agribusiness companies are being blamed for damaging millions of acres of crops through the drfting of the insecticide in an effort to increase profits from dicamba-related products that were released in 2015. Read more at The Counter…

For alternative meat manufacturer Beyond Meat, fast food chains giveth and taketh away

Canadian restaurant chain Tim Hortons is pulling Beyond Meat from its stores and Burger King's Impossible Whopper has slowed in terms of sales. Does this mean consumers are over the novelty of realistic meat replacements in fast food? Not necessarily. However, scaling is still an issue for both Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Read more at Tech Crunch…

How we learned to love umami

How do plant-based meat makers produce savory alternatives that hit the spot like the real deal? A large part of the answer lies in formulating flavors that prioritize umami. Cooking techniques such as high-heat roasting and grilling can also procure the savory sensation. Read more at The Wall Street Journal…

The US relaxed its meat safety rules at exactly the wrong time

Dangerous meat recalls are on the rise, with the Class I variety increasing by some 85% since 2013. However, the Trump administration continues to deregulate aspects of the food safety apparatus, such as allowing slaughter facilities to increase line speeds. Read more at Quartz…