FoodBev Media’s Phoebe Fraser rounds up this week’s food and beverage news, including:
South Korean parliament passes bill to ban dog meat trade
This week, South Korea’s parliament passed a bill to ban the breeding, butchery, distribution and sale of dogs for their meat – a move that is likely to end the controversial practice.
Animal welfare campaigners have hailed the decision as a “historic victory,” after years of pressure from both within the country and abroad.
While the law does not criminalise consumption, the measures are set to bring an end to eating the animals, a practice that is said to date back centuries.
The ban, which passed with 208 votes in support and two abstentions, will come into force in 2027 after a three-year grace period.
Vegan Food Group emerges as powerhouse in plant-based food industry
Vegan Food Group (VFG) has officially positioned itself as a transformative leader in the plant-based food industry, following the strategic rebranding of VFC Foods.
Established in December 2020 by chef Adam Lyons and Veganuary founder Matthew Glover, VFG has swiftly become a sector pioneer through targeted acquisitions, notably including Meatless Farm and Clive’s Purely Plants in 2023.
With an extensive portfolio of 80 SKUs, VFG has established a significant presence in 21,000 distribution points across the UK and EU, projecting £25 million in sales for 2024.
The launch of VFG marks a pivotal moment in the plant-based food movement, highlighting a commitment to global leadership in delivering uncompromising vegan options.
Bottled water contains hundreds of thousands of invisible microplastic particles, study finds
Research led by scientists at Columbia University has discovered that a litre of bottled water contains, on average, around 240,000 detectable plastic fragments – 10-100 times more than previously estimated – posing health risks by infiltrating organs and the bloodstream.
Nanoplastics, characterised by their extremely small size, possess the ability to bypass the intestines and lungs, allowing them to enter the bloodstream and subsequently reach organs such as the heart and brain. This minuscule scale enables them to infiltrate individual cells and cross through the placenta, impacting the bodies of unborn babies.
Study co-author Beizhan Yan said: “Previously, this was just a dark area, uncharted. Toxicity studies were just guessing what’s in there. This opens a window where we can look into a world that was not exposed to us before.”
Asahi acquires Octopi Brewing to begin beer production in US
Asahi Europe & International (AEI), the global division of Asahi Group, has acquired US contract brewer Octopi Brewing.
Octopi Brewing built a “modern production facility” in 2014, designed to produce various beverages, such as beer and ready-to-drink products. The facility is equipped with packaging lines capable of accommodating a variety of bottle and can styles and sizes, providing maximum flexibility.
The acquisition accelerates Asahi’s “growth journey along with its global ambitions for Asahi Super Dry,” Japan’s most popular beer, said the company. This will mark the first time Asahi Super Dry will be brewed in the US.
Kabrita introduces first FDA authorised goat milk-based infant formula in US
Kabrita, a global manufacturer of goat milk formula, has officially unveiled the first and only long-term FDA authorised goat milk-based infant formula in the US.
This milestone follows comprehensive clinical testing, affirming the safety and complete nutritional value of Kabrita’s infant formula for a baby’s growth in the first year. The long-term FDA authorisation ensures consistent product availability, assuring parents in the permanence of the infant formula in the US market.
Late in 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics formally endorsed goat milk infant formula as suitable nutrition for infants, whether breastfed or non-breastfed, requiring formula supplementation in their first year of life.
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