Plant-Based

Mississippi Bans Cell-Cultured Milk Products, Sets Label Restrictions for Alternative ‘Meat’ Products

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Effective July 1, HB 1153 bans the sale of milk products produced through cell-culturing and sets forth labeling requirements for products containing cell-based, insect-based, or plant-based protein.

UK Study Detects Mycotoxins in 100 Percent of Analyzed Plant-Based Products

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:02:00 -0500

Although generally detected at low levels, mycotoxins were present in all plant-based meat alternative and beverage samples, suggesting that cumulative exposure may pose health concerns.

Study Outlines Food Safety Concerns of Increasingly Consumed Edible Flowers

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The global trend toward natural and functional foods has fueled the popularity of edible flowers. To investigate the associated food safety risks, researchers conducted a comprehensive literature review, and identified pyrrolizidine and tropane alkaloids as a significant concern.

Taiwan to Implement National ‘Vegan’ Certification Labeling Scheme

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:28:22 -0400

Intended to prevent misleading or inconsistent labeling of plant-based foods, the national vegan-certified labeling scheme is voluntary and is in line with ISO standards.

WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee Launches Mentoring System, Discusses Trade Concerns

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:21 -0400

Members raised four new specific trade concerns (STCs) regarding: coffee bean imports into China; Thailand's regulation to mitigate aflatoxins in peanut kernels; a ban on imports of aquaculture shrimp in Thailand; and Viet Nam's procedure for the listing of exporting establishments.

Wilbur-Ellis, Talam Biotech to Collaborate on U.S. Food Crop Solution for Heavy Metals

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:52 -0400

Talam researchers have developed a technology that uses naturally occurring soil microbes to reduce bioavailability of toxic heavy metals to crops.

Reducing the Risk of Arsenic in Rice

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

New research suggests that the most effective treatments for reducing levels of arsenic in rice are cultivar selection, irrigation management, cooking approach, and the application of selenium or silicon soil amendments.

Health Canada and FSANZ Collaborate on GM Food Assessments

Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:13 -0400

A new Shared Assessment Process (SAP) allows food developers to submit an application for joint assessment by both agencies. By removing duplication, the process aims to cut down approval times while upholding each country’s safety standards.

Study Shows Relatively High Levels of Flame Retardants, Plasticizers in Plant-Based ‘Cheeses,’ Soy Products

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:29 -0400

A study led by researchers from the University of Antwerp has found that ultra-processed plant-based foods contain high levels of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in comparison to their animal-based analogs, but a dietary exposure risk assessment did not raise a health concern for the adult population, including vegans.

Researchers Characterize Potential Toxicological, Allergenic Effects of Emerging Protein Sources

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:41 -0500

Researchers from Wageningen University and Research have characterized the toxicological effects and allergenic potential of emerging alternative protein sources in a recent review.

FDA Releases New Guidance on Food Labeling Regulations, Low-Moisture RTE Food Safety

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:51:57 -0500

FDA has released four new guidance documents to help industry comply with food labeling regulations concerning allergens and plant-based alternatives to animal foods, as well as food safety regulations for ready-to-eat (RTE), low-moisture foods.

Ep. 182. Paul Shapiro: Making the Case for Cell-Based Meats and Plant-Based Proteins

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 02:30:00 -0500

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Paul Shapiro, best-selling author and CEO of The Better Meat Co., about the food safety and sustainability advantages offered by various novel alternative protein products, their current regulatory oversight, and hurdles they must overcome before being scaled up and widely accepted by governments and consumers.

Majority of Vegan Meat, Dairy Alternatives of Satisfactory Microbial Quality in England

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:28:41 -0500

A recent study found the majority of vegan meat and dairy alternatives available in England to be of satisfactory microbiological quality. Tofu from one producer had a Listeria problem.

CFIA Unable to Confirm Source of Contamination in Fatal Listeria Outbreak Linked to Plant-Based Milk

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 11:01:53 -0500

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has completed its root cause investigation of the summer 2024 listeriosis outbreak linked to plant-based Silk and Great Value milks. The agency was unable to confirm the primary source of the contamination, but found that the production facility was not compliant with testing requirements.

Fatal Listeriosis Outbreak in Canada Linked to Plant-Based Milks

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 10:55:53 -0400

A Canadian foodborne listeriosis outbreak linked to plant-based milks has sickened at least 20 people, hospitalized 15, and caused three deaths. A recall has been issued.

Reducing Spoilage of Plant-Based Milk with Flash Freezing

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Food spoilage is the result of several factors, one of which is the level of moisture in the food. Flash freezing can be used to reduce spoilage in plant-based milk. Several interventions can improve quality and safety, especially with regard to packaging.

Stakeholder Collaboration Required to Address Unique Safety Challenges of Novel Foods

Mon, 20 May 2024 14:03:46 -0400

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) have published a joint scientific review on novel food sources and production systems, such as edible insects, cell-based foods, plant-based proteins, and other products.

West Virginia Passes Truth in Food Labeling Act Restricting Imitation Meat Products

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:06:59 -0400

West Virginia passed a bill known as the Truth in Food Labeling Act, restricting the language that can be used on labels for cell-based meats, plant-based meat alternatives, and other “analogue products,” such as insect-based foods. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.

France Bans Use of Meat-Related Words on Plant Based Product Labels

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:04:59 -0500

The French government has issued a decree that would ban the use of “meaty” descriptor terms for plant-based meat alternative products produced in the country, with the aim of tackling misleading food labels.

FDA Issues Guidance on Voluntary Premarket Engagement for Food Made From Genome-Edited Plants

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:52:29 -0500

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a guidance for industry that describes how firms can voluntarily engage with FDA before marketing food from genome-edited plants.

Foodborne Illness-Causing Bacillus Strains Common in Plant-Based Dairy Ingredients, Study Finds

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Recent sampling and testing of ingredients used for plant-based dairy alternatives has revealed highly variable microbial loads among ingredients, although many samples contained a high proportion of spore-forming microbes as part of the total counts.

Arizona Bills Aim to Ban Cell-Based Meat; Restrict Labeling of Meat Alternatives as “Meat”

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:37:52 -0500

In Arizona, one recently introduced bill (House Bill 2244) aims to ban lab grown meat, and another (House Bill 2121) would prohibit labeling of meat alternatives and cell-based meat as “meat.”

Study Finds Little Difference Between Plastic in Seafood, Meat, and Plant-Based Proteins—It’s All Contaminated

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:05:29 -0500

A new study has found microplastics particles in 88 percent of protein food samples across 16 types, with no statistical difference in microplastics concentrations between land- and ocean-sourced proteins.

Industry Stakeholders Debate EU Regulations for Labeling Imitation Plant-Based Fishery Products

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 15:11:43 -0500

The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries recently held a public hearing to discuss the issue of labeling plant-based imitation fishery products, with some stakeholders likening current labeling practices to food fraud, and others arguing that labeling plant-based foods with words that evoke animal products is helpful to consumers.

Food Safety Versus the Green Transition

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The added microbial risks that come with eating more plant-based foods can usually be mitigated by adjusting recipes or process parameters, although hazard considerations regarding the chemical safety of a diet richer in plant-based materials is more complex. Also, introducing reusable packaging may come with its own set of issues.

Food Safety Implications of 3D-Printed Foods, Plant-Based Products, Novel Precision Fermentation

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 12:55:35 -0500

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published a foresight technical report of the food safety considerations of three novel food sources and production systems: 3D food printing, plant-based foods, new applications of precision fermentation.

CFIA Clarifies Definition, Regulatory Requirements for Simulated Meat and Poultry Products

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently published a guidance that clarifies the definition of and regulatory requirements for simulated meat and poultry products.

Italy Bans Cell-Based Meat

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 11:00:39 -0500

On November 16, the Italian Chamber of Deputies voted to pass a law that would ban the sale of cultivated meat in the country.

Italy Submits Draft EU Legislation to Ban Cell-Based Meat and Plant-Based Protein Labeled as Meat

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:37:09 -0400

With a draft legislation recently introduced to the European Commission, Italy is seeking to prohibit the production and marketing of cell-based meat, as well as the sale of plant-based proteins labeled as meat.

Addressing the Food Safety Challenges of the Plant-Based Food Industry

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Traditional dairy processors have begun to develop various milk alternatives alongside their standard product lines to adapt to shifting consumer demand. To effectively analyze and test traditional product lines while overcoming the difficulties of testing novel plant-based milk, they must have access to adaptable instruments and accommodate specific food safety concerns.