ERICA CIRINO: Since the new version of H5N1 first turned up, this highly transmissible and lethal strain of avian flu has circulated at high rates among domestic fowl on backyard and commercial farms, resulting in the deaths of a reported 37 million birds on farms in the United States alone. Some died directly from the of infection, while many others were culled as part of the country’s response to the disease outbreak. Bird flu has spread to at least 176 commercial farms and 134 backyard bird farms, housing mainly poultry like chickens and turkeys, across 34 states. It has hit especially…

ACLM: The American College of Lifestyle Medicine has released an expert consensus statement to assist clinicians in achieving remission of type 2 diabetes in adults using diet as a primary intervention. The expert consensus statement is endorsed by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE), supported by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and cosponsored by the Endocrine Society. This unique publication in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine is the first to focus on diet as primary means of achieving lasting remission of diabetes—without medications or…

ANNA GORA: You’ve probably heard countless stereotypes about vegan athletes. Maybe you’re even convinced that there’s a grain of truth to some of these beliefs. But what science says about veganism and exercise may surprise you. And with a growing interest in environmentally-friendly lifestyles, it’s more important than ever to bust the myths that surround vegan athletes. So what exactly is veganism? According to the Vegan Society, veganism is ‘a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practicable – all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to,…

ABBY YOUNG-POWELL: Iceland is under pressure to ban the production of a hormone extracted from pregnant horses, a practice that has been described as “cruel” and “animal abuse”. The hormone is used by farmers across the UK and Europe to increase reproduction in pigs, cows and other female farm animals. Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) is extracted from pregnant horses in Iceland during the summer at “blood farms”, before being converted into powder and shipped around the world. Animal welfare campaigners in Iceland visiting farms with the Guardian showed broken restraint boxes and…

LINDSEY STOWALL: Past research has shown that media coverage of new technologies tends to be overly optimistic. Similarly, recent studies suggest that the media is making promises about the potential benefits of cultured meat that have yet to be proven through scientific research. Because there are still many unknowns about the future of cultured meat, people need to be exposed to an accurate portrayal of the production process. Premature promises surrounding the benefits of cultured meat products prevent people from understanding all aspects of the technology and may be counterproductive in…

DANIEL LEE: The growth in plant-based foods is accelerating all around the world as consumers’ preference for sustainable, healthier foods continues to grow... There are two main drivers of the plant-based food boom. Firstly, consumers are increasingly demanding plant-based foods driven by growing health and sustainability awareness, the trend towards veganism, a growing population of lactose intolerant people, and increasing concern for carbon emissions and the environment. Secondly, food manufacturers are rapidly innovating in the plant-based food market which is resulting in the…

GERGANA KRASTEVA: More than 27,000 chickens were boiled alive in a ventilation system malfunction, described by a judge as ‘a disaster’. Hudson & Sanders, the firm managing the Leicestershire poultry farm, were fined £44,000 over the computer failure that happened nearly two years ago. Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard there were 50,000 chickens at Hose Lodge Farm in Colston Bassett when the systems that regulated air flow failed. As the temperature in the large barn rose rapidly, more than half of the animals died, while the ones that survived still suffered dramatically. The birds…

HALDAN KIRSCH: According to Statista, the global meat substitute market is quickly growing... And while you may expect the reason for this boom to be based on an increasing interest in animal rights or the environmental benefits of choosing a vegetarian or vegan diet, new research has discovered this might not be the case. A recent study completed by consumer insights platform Veylinx looked into some of the reasons people are choosing plant-based meat alternatives and what might convince additional consumers to switch. According to Veylinx's research shared in a press release, people are…

HANNAH BUGGA: The animal agriculture publication Poultry World recently released an article about the benefits of using virtual-reality technology to process slaughtered animals. Citing dangerous working conditions and sky-high turnover rates in poultry slaughter and processing plants, the article pitches the idea of having workers cut up animals from the “comfort” of their homes. This would essentially turn butchering animals into a kind of gruesome video game. This horrifying technology may be closer than we think. The Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) at Georgia Tech…

FOOD & WATER WATCH: The ‘lab meat’ industry is dominated by many of the same corporate powerhouses that exert substantial control over the processed foods and meat industries, according to new research from the national advocacy organization Food & Water Watch. The group’s report (“Lab Meat Won’t End Factory Farms — But Could Entrench Them”) shows that the plant-based meat sector is dominated by just four companies, including Kellogg and  Conagra. Kellogg alone accounts for nearly half of all sales of plant-based meat alternatives, thanks to its acquisition of Morningstar Farms.…