The Month in a Minute: April 2022

From the rising cost of eggs to the hidden health benefits of helping your dog go vegan, here are the top stories from April: 

April Reading

Here are some of the stories that caught our attention this month:

Industry News 

Antibiotic residue was found in Whole Foods certified meat, despite their claim that it contains “no antibiotics, ever.”

Tyson Foods announced that six of its plants achieved Zero Waste to Landfill validation. 

In the UK, bird flu continues to drive up the cost of eggs. Even chocolate eggs weren’t safe this month, as a salmonella outbreak from buttermilk gave new meaning to the name of Easter favorite, the “Kinder Surprise.”

JBS was found to have increased its emissions by 51 percent in the last five years, despite its pledge to reach net zero by 2040.

Continuing its rapid spread across the U.S., bird flu was discovered in Pennsylvania, Utah, and North Dakota causing meat producers to seek ventilation shutdown. 

Direct Action Everywhere called on state and local prosecutors to file charges against Iowa-based Rembrandt Enterprises for suffocating 5.3 million laying hens.

Meanwhile, researchers in Wisconsin responded by developing a nanovaccine to prevent future avian flu outbreaks, adding yet another secret sauce to chicken dinners.

Northern Ireland faces the loss of 1 million sheep and cattle to meet climate targets.

A salmon farm backed by Norwegian investors off the coast of Maine is stalled. 

Alternative Protein

The Israeli government gave a cultured meat consortium an 18 million dollar grant.

The Dutch government awarded 60 million euros to domestic cellular agriculture.

Africa’s first cultivated beef burger was unveiled in Cape Town. 

Japan produced its first cultured meat. 

China’s alternative protein market saw rapid expansion, driven by growing consumer interest and government support.

Studies and Reports 

New research has found that children instinctively feel that farmed animals and humans should be treated the same, according to a story that appeared in the Guardian. 

Vegan diets were found to be healthier for dogs than conventional meat-based ones in the largest peer-reviewed study of its kind which followed 2,500 dogs for a year. 

New Zealand officials blocked IPCC report language recommending a switch to plant-based proteins for climate action with India and Kenya following suit.

A new report found that plant-based foods can boost biodiversity, saving 500 species in the UK alone, mainly due to a decrease in the amount of land used for meat production.

A new, in-depth paper revealed that the Paris Agreement pledges, if met, could limit global warming below 2 °C.

The new study “Meat, Money, and Messaging” investigates how the meat industry is copying tobacco industry tactics in relation to environmental and health claims. 

Law 

In the UK, chickens can be legally labeled free-range despite never going outside. 

Ireland became the latest country to ban fur farming.

Arizona became the more recent state to ban the sale and production of eggs from caged chickens. 

A district court in Louisiana has determined that a state law restricting the use of “meaty” terms on food labels to products derived from slaughtered animals is unconstitutional, in a ruling hailed by Tofurky as “a victory for the entire plant-based industry.”

Government documents reveal CDC delayed disclosing a COVID-19 animal spillover event. 

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Kansas to revive a law that banned secret filming at slaughterhouses and other livestock facilities. 

Education

UK students can now study climate science in school. 

Tyson Foods announces it will pay for its employees’ college education. 

Technology

IPES published a new report that examines claims about livestock, fish, alternative proteins, and sustainability that warns about falling for quick fixes like plant- and cell-based meat.