With less than a week to go before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) kicks off in Glasgow, its organizers have announced that the menu at the event will feature mostly plant-based dishes recognizing the calamitous impact of animal agriculture on global climate.In September this ye…
A vegan lifestyle comes with its own set of challenges. From finding plant-derived alternatives to everyday food items, to reading labels before buying anything from the supermarket to ensure its crueltyfree – vegans do it all!However, even the most dedicated vegans tend to commit a folly when it…
In what is being termed as a medical breakthrough, a pig kidney has been transplanted into a human without triggering immediate rejection by the recipient’s immune system.This is the first time the transplant has proved to be successful after multiple failures over the past years. The development…
New Zealand is known for its multi-billion-dollar dairy industry, which not just caters to the local population but is also a major export earner. It is said that there are as many dairy cows in the country as there are people.The fact that dairy is the lifeblood for the island nation, however, cann…
Taking a step towards sustainability and animal welfare, Meghalaya’s minister for forests and environment, James Sangma is planning to boost pineapple leather production in the state, utilising the enormous waste generated by the flourishing pineapple trade.This move will not only help local farme…
Holywood actor Ashton Kutcher has announced that he is backing an Israel-based cultured meat startup MeaTech through his venture capital fund Sound Ventures.He along with Guy Oseary, a serial entrepreneur and talent manager, and Effie Epstein, had established the investment firm in 2015 with an aim…
A planet-friendly, dairy-free take on the Bengali delight – the rasmalai!Ingredients:3 Cups Almond Milk3-4 Strands of Saffron8-9 Tbsp Sugar1/2 Tsp Salt1/6 Tsp Ground Cardamom64.5 Gms Raw Cashewnuts1 Tbsp Corn Starch1 Pod of Cardamom Seeds56 Gms Almond Flour3 Tbsp Vegan Cream Cheese9.86 gms Vegan B…
Bengaluru-based Hatti Kaapi, a homegrown coffee chain with outlets in several Indian cities, has launched a range of vegan filter coffee.The brand currently has 115 stores and is planning to expand their retail footprint to over 200 stores.Hatti Kaapi partnered with Oatey, an Indian oatmilk startup…
In her upcoming biography, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham reveals that Former President Donald Trump had told her that he would never go vegan as it “messes with your body chemistry”. This conversation between Grisham and Trump followed 9-year-old vegan activist Ethan, ch…
Perfect Day, Inc., a California-based startup making dairy protein without animals, yesterday announced that it has raised $350 million in a Series D funding round co-led by Temasek and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments).Other investors such as Horizons Ventures and Bob Iger, as…
In a move to ban the cruel practice of using metal crates to confine pregnant mother pigs, the Karnataka Animal Welfare Board (KAWB) has issued a circular directing all district deputy directors to prohibit their manufacture, sale, and use.The use of gestation and farrowing crates in intensive pig f…
The Good Food Institute (GFI), a non-profit working to address the problems of food security and climate crisis by assisting startups in the sustainable food space, has announced that it will be awarding $5 million to 22 scientists from around the world, who are leading innovation in alternatives to…
Pune-based Mighty Millets is a healthy snacking brand born out of a mother’s passion and a son’s vision.At age 45, when most people often give up hopes of learning something new, Meena Jain decided to join a course on Nutrition and Dietetics. She worked hard and topped the course.With an inclina…
Gurgaon-based Piperleaf has announced the launch of its Plant-Based Egg Alternative, making an entry into the ever-growing alternative protein segment in India.According to a statement released by the company, the team worked incessantly to finally achieve the desired product, which tastes, smells a…
Altab Hossain, a Kolkata-based vegan activist and founder of animal rights groups ‘Vegans of Bengal’ and ‘Kolkata Vegans’, has alleged that he and his colleague Kushal Samaddar have been facing cyberbullying and harassment from the past several months.He alleges identity theft by some person…
Sattvik Council of India, the food safety and regulatory compliance for vegetarian and allied adherents, has launched a one-of-its-kind certification scheme for vegetarian/vegan food products, in association with its Global Audit Partner – Bureau Veritas.The Sattvik Certification Scheme aims to gu…
In a media report published recently, the US President of KFC Kevin Hochman said that he is betting big on plant-based foods and plans to expand the range of meatfree products at the multinational fast-food chain.He revealed his interest in aligning KFC’s menu with the prevailing plant-based trend…
After two years of serving vegan food at its outlet in Kolkata and receiving rave reviews, Ubuntu EAT has launched in Mumbai.With expansion plans in sight, Ubuntu is now working on a franchise model, with Mumbai being the first location where it has launched its outlet.Located at Andheri West, the o…
Customers in the UK and Ireland will now be able to enjoy the much-awaited McPlant vegan burger.Making its foray into the vegan burger market, McDonald’s is going to roll out McPlant in the United Kingdom and Ireland by the end of this month.Developed in partnership with plant-based meat company B…
Government of India on Monday issued draft Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2021, outlining vegan foods and stating compliance requirements.The draft regulations also include labelling and packaging requirements, and a logo meant exclusively for vegan food products.The notificati…
California-based food-tech company Plantible Foods Inc. announced the closing of a $21.5 million Series A funding round led by Astanor Ventures, an agrifood-focused investor.With this new funding, Plantible has raised a total of $27 million till date.Other participants in the round included Piva Cap…
US-based confectionary major Hershey’s has rolled out its first ever vegan chocolate under its ‘Better-for-You’ chocolate category.Better-for-you, a multi-pronged strategy launched by the company in February this year, is aimed at making snacking healthier. Besides offering portion-controlled…
Goodmylk, a leading homegrown vegan dairy startup, has announced it has secured Rs 7.3 crore (USD 1 million) in seed round extension that saw participation from major Indian and international angel investors and firms.Investors included, Jinisha Sharma, Aditya Agarwal (AIprime Nutritions Pvt Ltd), V…
In the era of CGI and animatronics, the use of real animals in film making is not required. However, this practice continues even as several filmmakers face charges of animal abuse for causing suffering or death of animals during shoots.In another such incident, a horse allegedly died due to a head…
UK-based non-profit investment group Veg Capital yesterday announced it has funded 35-year-old vegan bakery Clive’s Purely Plants.The new funding will be used by Clive’s to expand its range of pies, savoury tarts, quiches and nut roasts and work towards increasing production by 400% to reach £1…
Mumbai-based ice cream company NOTO, known best for its low-calorie and high protein ice creams, announced its entry into the plant-based segment recently.The dairy-free, zero added sugar ice creams are made using almond protein, and are available in five flavours including, Dark Chocolate, Mocha Al…
Blue Tribe Foods, one of India’s leading alternative protein companies, today announced the launch of plant-based Chicken and Pork Sausages in the country.This development was earlier reported by The Vegan Indians in February this year.With this, the company expands its current portfolio of produc…
Heralding a new era for vegan fine dining, Michelin judges have for the first time awarded 24 vegan restaurants in a year with the coveted Michelin star, according to an article published on The Beet.They have also conferred this title on 57 vegetarian restaurants, accommodating a shift in consumer…
Rapper and billionaire entrepreneur Jay-Z has invested in a Californian plant-based dairy alternative company, Misha’s Kind Foods, through his firm Marcy Ventures Partners Fund.Others who participated in the $3 million seed funding round, included vegan NBA star Chris Paul, and Lisa Shamus & Part…
When Germany’s iconic fast-food dish ‘currywurst’ (pork sausage) was removed from the canteen menu at Volkswagen headquarters in the country, former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder said he wants to “save the currywurst”.Now, he will need to try even harder as currywurst and several oth…
Cell-based crustacean meat pioneer, Shiok Meats recently presented the ‘world’s first’ cultured crab meat at Bulkit Timah restaurant in Singapore.The private event saw Shiok collaborate with Chef Jose Luis Del Amo of TheTasteLab to produce two fan favourites- Crab Cake and Chilli Crab. The dis…
What is it?MilkinOats oat milk range consists of three variants – Classic Oat milk, Barista’s Choice Oat milk, and Chocolate Oat milk. Apart from the key ingredients, which are oats and water, these plant-based milks have canola oil, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, and iodized salt. T…
Mumbai-based effervescent dietary supplements brand, Fullife Healthcare has joined hands with Parry Nutraceuticals to launch a new range of plant-based nutritional products.The first product to come out of this partnership is a plant-based Vegan B12 under well-known Swiss nutrition brand, Fast&Up.Th…
Animal welfare organization, AWBP Trust has announced a competition called ‘PAW2021’, dedicated to founder Lakshman Molleti’s first adopted dog, Raju.The competition covers three categories, namely artwork, poetry and essay writing, and is open for all.The topics provided for the competition a…
The Telangana state government has issued orders to prohibit the manufacture and sale of glue traps with an aim to eliminate the use of these cruel and illegal rodent control devices.Circulars regarding a ban on the use of glue traps were issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and People…
Over the last few years, the discussion around the disastrous impact of our current food system on the environment has picked up steam. Global bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have broadcasted their views on this issue, while food and beve…
Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma and cricketer Virat Kohli chose a vegan restaurant to enjoy a quiet meal after the latter’s match at Lord’s last week in which Team India beat England and took a 1-0 lead in the five match series.The duo went for a lunch date at Tendril Kitchen, a restaurant in Lon…
Cultured meat or lab-grown meat made from animal cells is becoming popular as an alternative to carbon-intensive and unethical animal agriculture. It is already available for human consumption in Singapore and a few other countries are gearing up to roll it out for consumers over the next couple of…
The town of Khokana in Nepal celebrates an annual festival called ‘Deopokhari’ every August a day after ‘Gai Jatra’. The main ritual, supposed to be a part of their 900 year old tradition, involves subjecting a baby (virgin) female goat to prolonged torture to appease ‘an angry supernatura…
The Good Food Institute (GFI) India, focused on the task of reimagining future food systems, is welcoming students, professionals, scientists and researchers to participate in the 2021 edition of the India Smart Protein Innovation Challenge (ISPIC).The five-month long program is aimed at training in…
As part of its Action Plan for Animal Welfare, the UK Government has announced a formal ban on import and export of shark fin products. The Action Plan is a comprehensive set of guidelines aimed at eradicating cruelty to animals and improving animal welfare standards.The International Union for Cons…
GBM Fabrics, a Surat-based textile mill, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Austrian company to produce plant-based silk.The Austrian company had invented lyocell filament yarn, an alternative to traditional silk yarn, which is not just cruelty-free but also sustainable.According…
Gurgaon-based artisanal vegan chocolate brand, Piperleaf, has announced the launch of five new plant based-milk and dark chocolate variants.Made using milk derived from hazelnut and cashew, Piperleaf has rolled out new flavours such as Zesty Orange, Classic Coffee, Banana Walnut, Raspberry Cinnamon…
World’s largest oat milk company, Oatly has announced an expansion in its base capacity at Utah in the US to meet a growing consumer demand.Towards the second half of this year, Oatly will begin the construction to accommodate an additional 75 million liters. The company’s total estimated capaci…
Renowned journalist and India’s best-known food writer and critic, Vir Sanghvi is optimistic about the growth of plant-based foods in India.The author of award-winning book Rude Food has spoken about the benefits of veganism and plant-based foods on prominent media platforms.In a tweet from Februa…
During an equestrian (horse-riding) segment of a pentathlon at recently-concluded Olympics, a horse named Saint Boy refused to do what it was expected to do, making its rider and the coach furious.The horse, which was meant to jump some fences as part of the pentathlon, stood at one place going back…
In what could set a precedent for future labelling of plant-based foods in the United States and beyond, vegan cheese company Miyoko Creamery has won a legal battle against the state of California over the use of certain terms in its product labelling.In November 2019, California’s Department of F…
Benson Hill, Inc., a food tech company based in Missouri (US), has announced the launch of its advanced yellow pea breeding and commercialization program that will help further the company’s growth in the alternative protein segment.The program will enable Benson Hill in the coming years to bring…
As consumers continue to opt for more plant-based foods due to ethical, environmental and health reasons, the plant-derived foods industry is gaining huge momentum in terms of revenue.A Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) report has predicted that the industry will exceed $162 billion within a decade. The r…