SARAH YOUNG: 'When it comes to plant-based eating, Germany has long been ahead of the game with recent reports confirming that 10 per cent of the population describe themselves as vegan or vegetarian, and an impressive one in 10 new products feature a vegan label. However, new data from market research firm Mintel has revealed the UK has now taken the helm. Thanks to initiatives like Veganuary, there has been a sharp rise in the number of Brits opting for meat-free alternatives, which has subsequently led to more vegan products being released. In fact, Mintel reports that around 16 per cent…

ANDY COYNE: 'Newly-released statistics have revealed the sale of vegan and vegetarian products in French supermarkets and hypermarkets increased by 24% last year. Research body Xerfi's data showed the market was worth EUR380m (US$435m) in 2018. The institute suggested such strong growth will continue. It is anticipating annual growth in the category of 17% between 2019 and 2021, predicting the market will be worth EUR600m within three years. It said: "The multiplication of food scandals, the questioning of the supposed benefits of milk and meat, or the increased sensitivity to animal…

RENAE REINTS: 'The UK’s Green Party parliament member Caroline Lucas believes the country needs “serious consideration” of a meat tax, arguing it would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote more sustainable farming. In a speech to the Oxford Farming Conference, Lucas called for a sustainable food system that restores biodiversity, supports farmers’ livelihoods, upholds animal welfare standards, and contributes to a zero-carbon world... While she admitted “better manure management and careful selection of seed can both help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Lucas added that a meat…

ASPCA: 'Despite this confusion over label meanings, retailer interest in stocking higher welfare products seems to be mirroring consumers’ elevated awareness and desire for such products. A recent survey showed that about three-quarters of consumers are studying labels related to animal welfare more than they were just five years earlier, looking for reassurance about how farm animals were treated. Yet two-thirds of those surveyed also thought that claims like “free range” and “cage-free” guaranteed better treatment for farm animals than they actually do... The projected path for animal…

JOSH BARRIE: 'In 2018, numerous pieces cited veganism as a coming tour de force. Some might argue it already was one... Plant-based burgers that “bleed” were popularised across the country... So, now what’s next? Could vegan fish be the final cog in the plant-based mechanism? We know about Wagamama’s aubergine katsu and What the Pitta’s soy-based doner kebab, but vegan smoked salmon and vegan prawns? They’re coming to a supermarket shelf near you... Sainsbury’s this month announced the launch of Sophie’s Kitchen, a US company that makes everything from vegan scallops to vegan lobster mac ‘n’…

ANIMALS ASIA: 'Fish farming is said to be the fastest growing form of animal food production on the planet, with over half of the fish we consume globally now raised within intensively managed systems which generally take the form of mesh cages submerged in natural bodies of water like sea lochs or rivers. Yet these farms are now causing major welfare problems for millions of fish as well as causing serious environmental concerns. Salmon farming is an intensive farming practice. Open-net pens in coastal waters hold tens of thousands of fish in extremely small spaces. Such intensive…

JENNY SPLITTER: 'According to the Good Food Institute, an organization that closely watches these industries, sales of plant-based meats grew over 23%, exceeding $760 million. In 2019, look for plant-based and cultured meat companies to navigate new partnerships, new markets and an ever evolving regulatory landscape... For consumers, 2019 may be the year they finally get to try their first lab grown meat... Industry observers are excited to see it all unfold... Mike Lee, Co-CEO of Alpha Food Labs, a platform for launching healthy and sustainable food companies, says the theme for 2019 is…

BRENDA HARRIMAN: 'In recent years, consumers of all ages are reporting changes in their consumption of meat, according to results from a poll conducted in partnership by NPR and Truven Health Analytics. This ongoing partnership surveys U.S. households on a bi-monthly basis in an effort to gauge attitudes and awareness of various health related issues. The data collected is used to inform policy and help different agencies, such as hospitals and governments, make decisions that directly affect the health and well-being of people in the U.S. and around the world. One of the polls they’ve…

WSKG: 'A federal judge in Iowa says it’s no longer a crime to go undercover at factory farms, slaughterhouses, and any other ag-related operations. The 2012 law was a clear violation of the First Amendment, the judge said. The Animal Legal Defense Fund, one of the plaintiffs in the case, called the ruling “a win for free speech and animal protection.” “Ag-Gag laws are a pernicious attempt by animal exploitation industries to hide some of the worst forms of animal abuse in the United States,” ALDF Executive Director Stephen Wells said in a statement. “Today’s victory makes it clear that the…

HSUS: 'In a victory that will likely prevent significant suffering for millions of farm animals, the Supreme Court today snuffed out efforts by the factory farming lobby and associated interests to overturn landmark laws against cage confinement in California and Massachusetts, and a California ban on the sale of foie gras. The court declined to take up challenges to California and Massachusetts laws enacted in 2010 and 2016 prohibiting the sale of certain cruelly produced eggs, pork and veal — successful measures that the Humane Society of the United States and our allies worked hard to…