In-ovo sexing hits 40% in EU; Beyond Meat pivots; FDA cuts crab tests
In-ovo sexing now covers 40% of EU egg flocks, up from zero five years ago, but US hatcheries still cull billions of male chicks, and Mercy For Animals released new undercover footage of chicks ground alive to push US producers toward the tech.
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In-ovo sexing now covers 40% of EU egg flocks, up from zero five years ago, but US hatcheries still cull billions of male chicks, and Mercy For Animals released new undercover footage of chicks ground alive to push US producers toward the tech [92][130].
02
Beyond Meat launched a line of protein powders, jerky bars and a produce-forward veggie burger under a new "Phytosphere" label as its core plant-based meat sales keep sliding [101].
03
The FDA and regulators in five other countries approved a synthetic test that could end the practice of bleeding horseshoe crabs for drug safety testing [15].
04
A 12-week randomized trial found older adults on a self-selected vegan diet lost significantly more muscle mass than omnivores, though resistance exercise cut the loss roughly in half [26].
05
The NFL Alumni Association partnered with sweet-protein maker Oobli to promote precision-fermented sugar substitutes to millions of football fans [102].
06
Smithfield Foods forecasts a $70-90 million operating loss for its fresh-pork division this quarter as hog prices and pork-market spreads collapse [82].
Scales to 40% of EU flocks as US hatcheries still cull male chicks
Photo: AgFunderNews
In-ovo sexing technology that identifies a chick's sex before it hatches has gone from zero to 40% market penetration in the EU in five years, driven by bans in Germany and France and voluntary phase-outs in Switzerland and Norway [92]. Mercy For Animals released new undercover footage from a hatchery in Brazil showing newly hatched male chicks ground up alive, timed to a campaign pushing US egg producers toward the same technology [130]. United Egg Producers, which represents 90% of US egg production, says it's "committed" to adopting in-ovo sexing once it's cost-competitive with manual sexing, with no binding date attached [92].
“Some tried to climb the equipment to escape the macerator. It was devastating to see that none were spared.”
Beyond Meat launches protein powders and jerky as sales keep falling
Photo: food dive
Beyond Meat, which dropped "meat" from its name earlier this year, launched Phytosphere, a line of protein powders, jerky bars and sparkling drinks that stretches well past the burgers that built the brand, as net sales fell 8.2% to $68.8 million in its most recent quarter [101]. CEO Ethan Brown said the company isn't trying to repeat its old playbook: "As we enter adjacent categories, we are not looking to repeat what has already been done. Instead, we apply a different lens" [101]. The line also includes Beyond Veggie, a new burger built from more than 10 fruits and vegetables that puts plants front and center instead of mimicking beef [101].
By the numbers
8.2%drop in Beyond Meat's net sales, to $68.8 million, in its most recent quarter [101]
20 gramsof plant protein in each scoop of the new Starmatter powder [101]
17 gramsof protein in each Starcut jerky bar, built on peas, fava beans and mycelium [101]
FDA and five countries approve synthetic test to replace horseshoe crab blood
Photo: physicians committee
The FDA completed an international collaborative assessment with regulators in Australia, Canada, Japan, Switzerland and the EU, approving a protocol that lets drugmakers swap the traditional horseshoe-crab-blood test for bacterial contamination with a synthetic, animal-free alternative [15]. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine called it the first time multiple regulators reached nearly simultaneous, independently reviewed approvals of the same manufacturing change [15]. The Post-Approval Change Management Protocol was approved in June 2026 through the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities [15].
“Regulatory collaboration can be a powerful catalyst for getting better testing methods into use.”
Janine McCarthy, director of research policy, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine · [15]
By the numbers
6regulators, the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Switzerland and the EU, aligned on approving the same synthetic-test protocol [15]
FromPhysicians Committee
04▬Research & NutritionStory
Trial finds vegan diet cuts muscle mass in older adults without exercise
Wikimedia Commons / Tofu
A 12-week randomized trial of 72 healthy adults aged 65 and older found those who switched to a self-selected vegan diet without dietary guidance lost significantly more thigh muscle volume and lean mass than those who kept their usual omnivorous diet, driven by a drop in protein intake of nearly 28 grams a day [26]. Muscle protein synthesis was also lower in the vegan group than in the omnivore group [26]. Adding resistance exercise to the vegan diet cut the muscle loss roughly in half compared to diet alone [26].
By the numbers
-27.7 g/daydrop in protein intake on the self-selected vegan diet, versus no change on the omnivorous diet [26]
-1.15 kgof appendicular lean mass lost on the vegan diet, compared with no significant change on the omnivorous diet [26]
72healthy older adults randomized across three diet arms in the trial [26]
FromPubMed
Worth Knowing
Food & Recipes
Try soy-free tofu made from just fava beans and nigari: it slices like the real thing and runs about 73% cheaper than store-bought soy tofu [74].
Research & Nutrition
A meta-analysis of prospective studies found vegetarian diets tied to 13% lower total cancer risk and vegan diets to 23% lower, with vegans also showing lower breast cancer risk [37].
A dose-response meta-analysis of 221,380 people found plant-based diets linked to a 26% lower risk of cognitive impairment and dementia [42].
A crossover feeding trial found a whole-food plant-based diet cut LDL cholesterol by 17.9% in adults with a genetic cholesterol disorder, versus a standard American diet [32].
Innovation
A global survey of health professionals found most rate their national dietary guidelines as only somewhat useful, with pulses and plant milks cited as the biggest gaps [107].
UK tempeh brand Better Nature put up London billboards challenging KFC's "Believe in Chicken" ad campaign, timed to research showing 54% of Britons say they're bored of chicken [109].
Singapore's Agrocorp launched a pea-and-rice protein powder under its Herbyvore brand, betting digestive enzymes can fix pea protein's usual gut-discomfort problem [108].
Laird Superfood hired a new CFO from Tropicana as it folds dairy-based products into a portfolio built mostly on its recent Navitas and Terrasoul acquisitions [111].
Germany's CellAg Deutschland published a national action plan urging faster EU approval timelines and matched public funding for cultivated meat [112].
Law & Policy
Manitoba's environment minister dismissed an appeal to stop poisoning Winnipeg's ground squirrels with a slow-acting anticoagulant, despite expert warnings that it causes prolonged deaths and secondary poisoning in pets and wildlife [134].
A new European Citizens' Initiative is seeking a million signatures to push the EU toward stronger protections for stray dogs and cats and tighter limits on animal testing [132].
Activism & Animals
Two Przewalski's horse foals, the first wild horses born on Kazakh soil in more than 200 years, arrived at a steppe reintroduction reserve this August [116].
One Good Thing
A dairy farm in western Massachusetts is turning into a sunflower field and a mini-golf course, and the cows are heading somewhere better too. Animal Outlook's Farm Transitions Program is working with McCray's Farm to move about 130 cows to sanctuary in stages, starting with the yearlings, male calves and newborns who'd otherwise be sent to slaughter. Two of them already made it: Cashew and Finnigan, two calves, are retired now at Peace Farm Sanctuary instead of on a truck [113].
This Dense Bean Salad keeps you full for hours! Black beans, lentils, veggies, kale, seeds and a creamy, lemony dressing. It's packed with fiber, protein, and antioxidants in…
25 min4 servings23 ingredients
See the ingredients
15 ounce can black beans (rinsed and drained, or 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans)
15 ounce can brown lentils or green lentils (rinsed and drained, or 1 1/2 cups cooked brown lentils)
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper (chopped small, or more, to taste)
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper (chopped small, or more, to taste)
1/2 cup chopped onion (chopped small)
3 to 4 tablespoons chopped pickled jalapeños
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes (or more, to taste)
2 cups loosely packed chopped kale
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
2 tablespoons chopped pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup non-dairy yogurt (, see notes for sub )
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
Mercy For Animals
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