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 Israeli food company Salt of the Earth has replaced flavoring ingredient monosodium glutamate (MSG) in its ranch dressing with an all-natural sodium-reduction ingredient based on vegetable extracts and sea salt. Mediterranean Umami was tested in many ranch dressing formulations. The tests resulted in a compound that maintained the true flavor of Ranch dressing, but with 30 percent less sodium, and no MSG or yeast extracts. According to the company, MSG leads to “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” a group of symptoms now known as MSG Symptom Complex. They can include headache, skin flushing, and sweating. Mediterranean Umami does not trigger side-effects and is a clean-label product evoking no negative consumer health reactions, the company says
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"Healthier Savory Dishes With All-natural Mediterranean Umami; Replacing MSG in Ranch Dressing--Naturally", PR Newswire, July 05, 2018
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 Research from the International Food Information Council shows that labels proposed by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service to disclose “bioengineered” (BE) foods “dramatically increase a wide variety of consumer concerns.” The IFIC Foundation tested reactions to the three BE labeling symbols and two variations of text disclosures. Consumers were shown bottles of canola oil without any BE logo or text, with symbols (like a “plant”), with a symbol plus “bioengineered” in text, and with a symbol plus “may be bioengineered” in text. Half of the consumers had “human health concerns” when shown the BE “plant” symbol. The number rose to 51 percent when text was added to indicate that the product was “bioengineered,” and to 57 percent when
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"Survey: Nearly Half of U.S. Consumers Avoid GMO Foods; Large Majority Primarily Concerned About Human Health Impact ", Food Insight, July 02, 2018
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 Responding to what it calls “surging demand for its meat-free burgers,” California’s Beyond Meat, which produces Beyond Burger and Beyond Sausage, is opening a second factory in Columbia, Mo., that will add 250 jobs to its operations in the state. The new plant will expand production capacity from 30,000 sq. ft. to 100,000. Beyond Burger, launched in 2016, is made entirely from plants without GMOs, soy, or gluten. The Beyond Sausage line was launched late in 2017. The company has customers in Europe, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Chile, Israel, UAE, South Korea, Taiwan, and South Africa. [Image Credit: © Beyond Meat]
"Beyond Meat opens second factory, creates 250 jobs, as demand for meat-free burgers soars", just-food global news, July 01, 2018
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 McDonald’s in the UK will start using recyclable paper straws later this year, with plastic straws withdrawn completely next year. The company in the UK uses some 1.8 million straws each day, and the move follows a two-month trial at certain UK restaurants. It also follows a similar announcement by UK supermarket chain Waitrose. McDonald’s in other countries, including France, Norway, Sweden and the US, are expected to run trials later this year in their own efforts to find schemes to eliminate plastic straws. [Image Credit: © Manfred Richter @ Pixabay.com]
"McDonald's to switch to paper straws in UK after customer campaign", The Guardian, June 15, 2018
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 India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, announced that the country plans to scrap single-use plastic by 2022, as part of World Environment Day, which India is hosted this year. Modi also announced a scheme to address marine plastic, and agreed to join Clean Seas, a UN campaign. [Image Credit: ©Hans Braxmeier @ Pixabay.com]
"India to eliminate the use of single-use plastics by 2022", FoodBev , June 06, 2018
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 French supermarket chain Carrefour is aiming for own-brand packaging that is 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, and to stop using non-recyclable packaging for organic fruit and vegetables by the end of this year, as well as ending the sale of plastic straws. By 2022, it intends to use 50% recycled plastics in bottles for its juice, soda and water products. The announcement coincides with a European Commission announcement to ban single-use plastics like straws and drink stirrers in the European Union. Plans also cover plastic cutlery and cotton buds, and by 2025 EU states will be expected to collect 90% of single-use plastic beverage bottles. [Image Credit: © annca @ Pixabay.com]
"Carrefour own-brand products to have fully recyclable packaging", FoodBev , May 31, 2018
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California start-up GacLife next month will introduce its eponymous functional still and sparkling water infused with Southeast Asian gac, an orange fruit rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene and lycopene. The “rare superfruit” was created by entrepreneur Yin Zou as “a response to severe skin irritants and eye troubles we experience daily due to digital burnout.” The product is available in 12-oz bottles, each containing 20 milligrams of carotenoids, “the equivalent of one head of cabbage, five large tomatoes, 15 large carrots and 30 bunches of spinach.” The drink has 15 calories per bottle, no added or artificial sugars, and is available in lemon, pineapple, peach, sparkling mango, sparkling lemon, and sparkling passion fruit flavors.
"Rare Asian ‘superfruit’ shines in new line of functional, flavored water", Beverage Daily, July 05, 2018
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