US plant milk slips, Germany climbs, animal-free casein gets €1.29M
US plant-based milk volumes fell 5.4% over the past year while German meat alternatives grew 15.7%, so how plant-based is doing depends on the country.
4 top stories31 sources read134 articles scanned6 sides of vegan life
US plant-based milk volumes fell 5.4% over the past year while German meat alternatives grew 15.7%, so how plant-based is doing depends on the country. [80]
02
UK regulators published a third batch of cultivated-meat guidance, but no cell-cultivated product is authorised for sale in Great Britain yet. [88]
03
Those Vegan Cowboys and three partners won a €1.29 million Dutch-regional grant to build sports nutrition with animal-free casein. [86]
04
A Texas A&M randomized trial found 10 grams of creatine a day added lean tissue in adults 45 to 65, exercising or not. [15][18]
05
GAIA says horse DNA turned up in 27% of 123 snacks from Belgian chip shops, and wants horse meat taken off the market. [111]
The Stories: the day’s biggest developments, in the sources’ own words
01▬Food & RecipesStory
US plant-milk volumes fell 5.4% while German meat alternatives grew 15.7%
Photo: green queen
Green Queen's weekly roundup reports that, per Circana, US plant-based milk volume sales fell 5.4% over the last year, with almond milk down 7.9% [80]. In Germany, Europe's largest plant-based market, meat-alternative volumes grew while conventional meat edged down [80]. NoBull Burger, a 15-year-old US whole-food plant-based startup, announced its closure [80].
By the numbers
5.4%drop in US plant-based milk volume sales over the last year, almond milk down 7.9% (Circana) [80]
15.7%growth in German meat-alternative volume sales, January to August, against a 0.5% decline for conventional meat [80]
2.5%drop in UK plant-milk volumes over the 12 months to June [80]
UK regulators publish third batch of cultivated-meat guidance, with no product yet authorised
Photo: vegconomist
The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland published guidance on assessing the safety of growth-media components and on how authorisation rules apply to cell-cultivated products, including after a product is changed [88]. The FSA also released research on analytical methods and on how genetic drift can affect product safety [88]. Cell-cultivated products are novel foods that need market authorisation, and none has been authorised for Great Britain [88].
By the numbers
Third batchof guidance from the Cell-Cultivated Products Sandbox Programme, which launched in February 2025 [88]
0cell-cultivated food products authorised for the GB market [88]
Zero-to-five-year horizonwhere the FSA and FSS placed cultivated foods in July, citing consumer scepticism and scaling challenges [88]
WatchThe Sandbox runs until February 2027 [88]; Thailand's FDA consultation on cultivated-meat manufacturing rules closes October 9, 2026 [64].
Fromvegconomist the vegan business magazineCultivated Meat News
03▲InnovationStory
Those Vegan Cowboys' consortium wins €1.29M to bring animal-free casein to sports nutrition
Photo: vegconomist
A four-member consortium including precision-fermentation company Those Vegan Cowboys was awarded €1,290,185.87 through OPZuid, the EU regional funding programme for the southern Netherlands [86]. The partners, Interfood, HAS green academy and XXL Nutrition, will build sports-nutrition prototypes using the company's animal-free casein, with work running until 31 March 2028 [86]. No launch timeline or product formats have been announced [86].
“With our stainless steel cow Margaret, we’re showing that casein can be made without animals too.”
Hille van der Kaa, CEO, Those Vegan Cowboys · [86]
By the numbers
€1,290,185.87subsidy from the European Regional Development Fund, the Dutch government and the province of North Brabant [86]
€2.58 millionapproximate project budget once the partners' own contributions are added [86]
€6.25 millionfunding round Those Vegan Cowboys closed in December, followed by a €2.5 million crowdfunding campaign within 24 hours of opening to pre-registered investors [86]
Fromvegconomist the vegan business magazine
04▬Research & NutritionStory
Texas A&M trial finds creatine added lean mass in adults 45 to 65, with or without exercise
Photo: sciencedaily
In a 12-week double-blind trial, adults aged 45 to 65 took 10 grams of creatine monohydrate or a maltodextrin placebo daily, after choosing whether to join an exercise and diet program or stay in a non-exercise group [18]. Among those who did not exercise, the creatine group gained lean tissue and strength; among those who did, it lost more body fat percentage than placebo, which the researchers call a first [15]. Lead author Richard Kreider chairs the scientific advisory board of AlzChem, a creatine monohydrate maker, and the authors label the cognitive and biomarker findings exploratory [18].
“Individual cognitive and biomarker findings should be interpreted as exploratory.”
study authors, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · [18]
By the numbers
64adults completed the 12-week intervention and were analyzed [18]
2.4 poundsof lean tissue gained by creatine takers who did not exercise [15]
nearly three poundsof lean tissue added by creatine with exercise and a modest calorie deficit, while the placebo group showed little change [15]
685 clinical trialsreviewed in Kreider's 2025 analysis, which found no significant difference in side-effect rates between creatine and placebo [15]
FromPrimary SourcesNutrition Research News -- ScienceDaily
Worth Knowing
Food & Recipes
Plate pick: Vegan Richa's Moroccan harira uses chickpeas, red lentils and quinoa for 21g protein and 21g fiber per serving, and she puts the whole pot at about $6.50 to $7. [61]
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2244, a voluntary "non-ultra-processed certified" front-of-pack seal due by 1 June 2029, while the Institute of Food Technologists warns of fragmented state definitions. [51]
Innovation
New Zealand's Boring launched Boring Break oat milks in chocolate and vanilla with 6g protein and 2.3g fibre per 100ml, the protein coming from brewer's yeast. [78]
Danone and Michelin's Biotech Open Platform opened in Clermont-Ferrand to outside clients, with a fermentation line of up to 15 m³ and first-phase investment past €20 million. [87]
The Vegetarian Butcher added Chick'n Crispeace and No Misteak strips in Germany and Austria through distributor Uplegger. [83]
Research & Nutrition
Venus Williams and PCRM's Dr Kristi Funk made a breast cancer awareness PSA now running in AMC theaters; its health claims are PCRM's own, and PCRM's survey found only 19 percent of women had discussed nutrition and breast cancer risk with a provider. [16]
One Good Thing
Sue Davis closed Counter Culture in 2022 as costs rose and foot traffic fell, then brought the Austin vegan institution back in a renovated 1960s building in Windsor Park. A Kickstarter that raised nearly $50,000 helped pay for it, and the menu returns with Mac n Cheeze, the Turtle Cheesecake and a few new dishes. Asked why she reopened in a tough year for independent restaurants, she answered, "Stubbornness and love." [53]
This smoky Moroccan Harira soup with chickpeas, red lentils, quinoa, is a budget friendly 1 Pot meal! 21g Protein 21g fiber, bring crusty bread to dip. (gluten-free, soy-free…
50 min3 servings24 ingredients
See the ingredients
2 teaspoons oil
5 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 1/2 cups chopped red onion
1/2 teaspoon or more salt (divided)
3/4 cup chopped carrots (chopped small, or use more, to taste)
vegconomist the vegan business magazine
