California signs non-UPF seal; NYC soy milk cuts school emissions
California signed AB 2244, the first US state-backed "Non-Ultraprocessed Certified" seal, and its additive rules will be hard on plant-based meats and milks.
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California signed AB 2244, the first US state-backed "Non-Ultraprocessed Certified" seal, and its additive rules will be hard on plant-based meats and milks [89][143].
02
New York City is taking its school soy milk pilot from 5 schools to 12 after milk emissions fell 17.4% on average [92].
03
The count of all-vegan US restaurants on HappyCow fell from 1,717 to 1,509, and the trend is still running against the plate [123].
04
Veganuary says 82% of six-month survey respondents still eat at least half as many animal products, but only 1,730 people answered [152].
05
The Dutch parliament asked the government to fold a plant-based action plan into its nitrogen and food policy, with no money attached [98].
06
UK startup Meatly is fitting out a 20,000-liter cultivated pet food site and says it will prove its unit economics within about two years [70].
Newsom signs California law creating first US Non-Ultraprocessed Certified food seal
Photo: green queen
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2244, creating a voluntary "Non-Ultraprocessed Certified" seal, the first state-backed non-UPF label in the US [89][143].
Foods with dyes, flavor enhancers, non-sugar sweeteners or processing aids cannot qualify [143], which likely leaves many plant-based meats and dairy alternatives outside it [89]. Non-UPF Verified, which runs its own certification, had urged a veto because the law leaves processing methods out of the criteria [143].
“Like the USDA Organic label, this new seal will provide consumers with clear, trustworthy information and make it easier for them to locate healthier foods that are free from harmful additives”
Jesse Gabriel, Assemblymember and author of the bill · [136]
By the numbers
72-0 and 32-0Assembly and Senate votes passing AB 2244 [89]
June 2028when companies can first apply for the seal [89]
$10Min annual sales plus more than 25 certified products triggers the rule that a store must display at least three certified items [89]
WatchThe state must accredit third-party certifiers no later than June 1, 2029 [136].
New York City expands school soy milk pilot to 12 schools after 17% milk-emissions cut
Photo: green queen
Five New York City schools offered organic soy milk on the lunch line starting in May, and the city is expanding the pilot to 12 schools this fall [92]. At the three schools with baseline data, students took 18.6% more milk overall while milk emissions still fell 17.4% on average [92]. The Plant Powered School Meals Coalition ran the trial, and the pilot follows a federal change letting schools serve non-dairy milk without a doctor's note [92].
“More than half of our students chose soy milk during the time it was available”
17.4%average fall in milk-related emissions, despite the rise in consumption [92]
35.6%of milk selected across the five pilot schools was soy [92]
30.4%fall in greenhouse gas emissions per 100 milk servings [92]
59%cut in the carbon footprint of NYC school meals between 2019 and 2025 [92]
WatchThe expanded 12-school pilot runs this fall [92].
FromGreen Queen
03▼Wins & CultureStory
US all-vegan restaurant count falls to 1,509 as Madison's Mad Rabbit Cafe closes
Photo: future perfect
HappyCow listed 1,509 all-vegan US restaurants at the time of writing, down from 1,717 in October 2025 [123]. VegNews reported that vegan restaurant counts in New York City, Los Angeles and Portland fell between 21 and 25 percent from 2022 to late 2024, and Modern Love, Candle and the Vegan Joint have since closed [123]. Owner Nate Anger said Mad Rabbit was profitable in each of its three years but not enough to justify the hours it demanded, even as plant-based options at non-vegan restaurants have become far more common [123].
“I live here. I spend far more time here than anywhere else”
1,509all-vegan US restaurants on HappyCow now, versus 1,717 in October 2025 [123]
21 to 25 percentdrop in vegan restaurants in New York City, Los Angeles and Portland, 2022 to late 2024 [123]
Fourfully vegan restaurants in Madison when Mad Rabbit opened in early 2024; one or two remain [123]
FromFuture Perfect | Vox
04▲Wins & CultureStory
Veganuary survey finds 82% of respondents still eating at least half as many animal products
Photo: veganuary
Veganuary's six-month survey says more than 82% of respondents cut animal products by at least half and 35% stayed fully plant-based [152]. This is the campaign's own self-reported survey: it went to 343,459 participants and 1,730 replied [152]. The group is planning its first UK-wide Veganuary Coffee Morning for 21 to 23 January 2027 [153].
By the numbers
82%of respondents report cutting animal products by at least half [152]
77%of respondents who stayed vegan reported an improvement in at least one aspect of their health [152]
WatchVeganuary's 2027 campaign is due to launch in December [152].
FromVeganuary
Worth Knowing
Food & Recipes
La Vie's Tofu Nuggets (RRP £3.90 for 180 grams, 13 grams of protein per 100 grams) and Tofu Pan Fry Teriyaki (RRP £3.70 for 240 grams) are on sale now at Tesco and Ocado across the UK [68].
Hain Celestial shares closed at $0.49 after falling more than 53% this year, and Nasdaq gave the "better-for-you" brand maker until 22 March to get back above $1 [51].
Innovation
Hackney's Green mayor Zoë Garbett pledged to end meat and dairy ads on council land, which campaign group Adfree Cities says would be a UK first, though no date or policy text has been published [99].
The Vegan Society's Empathy Index found 65% of 2,000 UK adults, 82% of them meat-eaters, call factory farming unacceptable [101].
Swiss startup Food Brewer put Yodel Bites, a cocoa-free bar made from yellow pea byproducts, on all SBB dining-car trains, with 30% less sugar than conventional milk chocolate [87].
Law & Policy
Animal Justice is pressing the University of Saskatchewan to drop enriched cages from a $15.6-million poultry facility that received $6.2 million in federal funding [133].
One Good Thing
Lulingu was rescued from a wildlife trafficking network in 2016 and arrived at the GRACE sanctuary in the DRC at 18 months old. She was reintroduced to Virunga National Park in 2024, and in May 2026 she gave birth to a baby of her own [111]. Grauer's gorillas have fallen an estimated 77% since 1994, so a wild-born calf from a rescued gorilla matters. Local communities will vote on the baby's name [111].
Food Safety News
