#Plant-based Meat Companies

[ananya5400]

The global plant-based meat market size is estimated to valued at USD 7.9 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 15.7 billion by 2027, recording a CAGR of 14.7%, in terms of value during the forecast period.

[supriyab]

The global plant-based meat market size is estimated to valued at USD 7.9 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 15.7 billion by 2027, recording a CAGR of 14.7%, in terms of value during the forecast period.

[thedrowsydoormouse]

Hehe I fucked up. Again. My mom's been buying me a lot of vegan and plant based snacks lately and she was trying a new protein bar & offered me a bite and because of the vegan snacks I didn't really think twice about it until after I took a (thankfully itty bitty) bite when she mentioned another flavor that IS vegan when I finally checked the ingredient list and saw two things I'm allergic to within the first like five ingredients. Now I'm kind of freaking out and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hopefully it won't be too bad because I think I have freckles bigger than the bite I took, I've eaten other stuff (and plan to continue eating today, I have soup in the slow cooker) and I took two antihistamines which hopefully helps mitigate some of the find out that's going to be happening later. This could be nothing more than some phlegm or this could be me puking blood again. I'm hoping for the former. Mentally prepping for the latter. Pray for me.

[chamerionwrites]

Nearly a dozen children were working shifts cleaning meat processing equipment used at an Iowa pork plant’s so-called kill floor over a four-year period, the US Department of Labor announced.

Eleven children were using corrosive chemicals to clean as well as perilous “head splitters, jaw pullers, bandsaws, neck clippers and other equipment” at a Seaboard Triumph Foods pork processing plant in Sioux City, according to officials. This is the second time federal investigators have found children working at that particular Sioux City meat processing plant.

The most recent settlement comes with Qvest LLC, an Oklahoma-based cleaning company hired by Seaboard from 2019 to 2023. The company was fined $171,919 for violating federal law.

In September 2023, Seaboard hired a new cleaning contractor: Fayette Janitorial Services, headquartered in Tennessee. Investigators found Fayette hired 24 children to work overnight shifts – some as young as 13 and carrying glittery school backpacks – including some of the same minors who were employed by Qvest, the previous cleaning company. In May, Fayette was fined $649,304.

“These findings illustrate Seaboard Triumph Foods’ history of children working illegally in their Sioux City facility since at least September 2019,” said wage and hour midwest regional administrator Michael Lazzeri. “Despite changing sanitation contractors, children continued to work in dangerous occupations at this facility.”

The federal investigation comes after a 2023 New York Times report on migrant child exploitation, in which the paper documented children working dangerous jobs and overnight hours.

Children who arrive at the US’s southern border alone often stay in the country for years before their cases are adjudicated. While they wait, they live with sponsors. As of 2023, only one-third of migrant children went to live with their parents, a sea change from a decade ago. That can leave children vulnerable to exploitation or trafficking.

[styllwaters]

Hailing from the harsh planet of Ettera, Knights are the only sophont in the Zhagaviit system made of two consciousnesses. ---

At last, here they are! Nearly finished with redesigning every Vivere 44 species. These guys are retconned werewolves which I posted about some time ago. You might have noticed I brought back some space unicorn aspects as well! They've been through so many design changes but I've finally settled on something solid.

More information below!

I'll try to keep this concise. Most of this info is introductory biology.

Knights are the only sophonts living on Ettera, a mostly barren planet where survival is tough. Their civilisation is the least advanced compared to others in Zhagaviit, such as Arrows and Sea Crawlers. They were the third species to be contacted by the ZGC (Zhagaviit Galactic Community) followed by Post Humanity. Knights are known for being hardy, efficient, and motivated.

If it isn't already clear enough, Knights are two species in a symbiotic relationship acting as one individual. Helmets and Hosts have an evolutionary history so intertwined that one cannot survive without the other.

The Helmet is attached to the head of the Host, and will remain there for the rest of their life (unless separation happens - but we'll get into that later). In the relationship, their role is vision and dexterity. Since the Host is effectively blind, it is the Helmet's job to guide them. Their hands are also important, being the Knight's primary manipulators. They played a large part in early tool use. The Helmet lacks a mouth, and receives all its nutrients from the Host through a specialised organ not unlike an umbilical cord.

The Host is essentially the main body of the Knight. Wolflike and mammalian in nature, the Host is the Helmet's mode of transportation. Because they need to eat for two, Hosts are omnivorous and will eat just about anything. Although majority of their diet is comprised of meat, they are capable of digesting plant matter and bones. They are highly skilled and effective hunters.

It is in both party's best interests to assimilate as soon as possible. The Host cannot see without a Helmet, and within a few weeks bonding will become impossible. The stakes are higher for a newborn Helmet, because they cannot feed by themselves and will starve in under a week without a Host or an artificial feeder tube. Prior to first contact with the ZGC, Knights did not have the technology for artificial feeders, and infant death rates were high.

So how do two beings coordinate one body? The fact is that once assimilation occurs, they become one being. The Helmet's brain and the Host's brain are connected by millions of nerves exchanging signals. It's complicated, but the best way to describe the experience would be a 'mutual trance' in which full body coordination is achieved. They have shared interests and intentions. However, a Knight can mentally separate the Helmet and the Host, gaining back individuality; they do this for many reasons, perhaps to discuss something among themselves or simply for company. Yet on the whole, a Knight will spend 80% of their life in this 'trance'.

Both Helmets and Hosts have noticeable sexual dimorphism. Male Helmets are called Pikes, and females are called Guards. Pikes are distinguished by their horn, bold stripes, and more prominent crest spines. Guards lack a horn and have less contrast in their thinner markings.

Female Hosts are called Forts. They are larger than males and have a mane of fur on the back of their necks. Male Hosts, Spires, lack this mane.

In Knight society, individuals are usually referred to based on their combination of Host and Helmet. Since there are four sexes involved, there are four possible combinations.

Guard-spire [female Helmet, male Host]

Pike-fort [male Helmet, female Host]

Guard-fort [female Helmet, female Host]

Pike-spire [male Helmet, male Host]

(Knight languages have their own version of pronouns for each, but in English all are referred to as they/them by default. Of course, each individual has their own preferences. Usually a Knight will refer to themselves as we/us).

____

I'll get into Knight social structure, cultures and more in another post! For now, if you have any questions, feel free to send an ask. Always happy to answer!

[follow-up-news]

A nationwide recall of meat and poultry products potentially contaminated with listeria has expanded to nearly 12 million pounds and now includes ready-to-eat meals sent to U.S. schools, restaurants and major retailers, federal officials said. The updated recall includes prepared salads, burritos and other foods sold at stores including Costco, Trader Joe’s, Target, Walmart and Kroger. The meat used in those products was processed at a Durant, Oklahoma, manufacturing plant operated by BrucePac. The Woodburn, Oregon-based company sells precooked meat and poultry to industrial, foodservice and retail companies across the country. Routine testing found potentially dangerous listeria bacteria in samples of BrucePac chicken, officials with the U.S. Agriculture Department said. No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recall, USDA officials said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not launched an outbreak investigation, a spokesperson said. The recall, issued on Oct. 9, includes foods produced between May 31 and Oct. 8. The USDA has posted a 342-page list of hundreds of potentially affected foods, including chicken wraps sold at Trader Joe’s, chicken burritos sold at Costco and many types of salads sold at stores such as Target and Walmart. The foods were also sent to school districts and restaurants across the country. The recalled foods can be identified by establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” inside or under the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers can search on the USDA recall site to find potentially affected products. Such foods should be thrown away or returned to stores for refunds, officials said. Eating foods contaminated with listeria can cause potentially serious illness. About 1,600 people are infected with listeria bacteria each year in the U.S. and about 260 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or to up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those with weakened immune systems or who are pregnant. The same type of bacteria is responsible for an outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meat that has killed at least 10 people since May.

[massivechestplate]

Average Gacha Character:

FGO: This is Rider, Cyrus the Great, based on the real historical figure. We genderbent him into a her with big bazongas and a thing for literature. Thankfully she was added in a main story update so she has good writing.

Genshin Impact: This is Robespierre, a 17 year old cheerful politician with a passion for reform thus he has a Hydro Vision. His parents were brutally murdered in a separatist uprising. His best friend is a twink in short shorts who he is shipped with. You find out he has a hobby of collecting coins during an event.

Honkai: Star Rail: This is Gabriel, he's a Fire-Destruction civil engineer with a wrench gun. He's literally just some guy until you find out he has ties to the local criminal underworld and is secretly a Masked Fools plant.

Limbus Company: This is Perseus, a Fixer who must kill the Abnormality Stone-Gaze Queen to prevent his mother from marrying a Wing CEO. Or that's what I would say if this wasn't his alternate universe self who worked at dystopian Freddy Fazbear's.

Arknights: This is Foosball. She's a secretary turned mercenary after getting Rock Cancer because she had talent with knives. She went crazy after the war crimes and experiments but she's fine now. Probably...

Nikke: This is Jane, she's a military uniform imouto kuudere who was thrown into a metaphorical and literal meat grinder due to cyborg abuse but has now imprinted on the first person to show her kindness. Also her ass is-

[manikas-whims]

13th Day [Read on AO3]

— a Xavier X Reader fanfic

...

Based on Xavier's 21 Days 🍒

In which, its the 13 day of your undercover mission with Xavier, and he hasn't come back home yet. You are worried as dark thoughts begin consuming your mind.

A twinge of discomfort began blooming in your belly as you sat down on the couch of your newly rented apartment. The same apartment that you were meant to share with Xavier for the entire duration of your undercover mission together.

You picked up the television’s remote, its weight feeling as heavy as a hunter’s firearm in your hand. And despite the sense of desolation eating away at your soul, you switched on the television and shuffled through the channels in hopes of finding something good enough to entertain you for another hour or so. To keep your mind from drifting off towards the dreadful thoughts that always lurked in the back of your mind. To keep your eyes from realizing how empty this living room felt without the drowsy form of the eccentric, silver haired deepspace hunter that you had grown closer to in the last thirteen days of your job. To distract you from the fact that he was meant to play your husband on this mission but wasn’t even home by now.

He had gone out to grab a few food supplies that you were running low on. But it was already way past eleven at night. And though you were aware that he was an adult, fully capable of handling himself, you couldn’t help the feeling of unease from creeping all over your skin like an overgrown plant, ensnaring your heart in more anxiety than was necessary for something as normal as this.

For all you knew, he probably discovered some sale on a variety of fresh meat and was busy fussing over how much portions to buy. And yet, you felt numb with every passing minute.

These past thirteen days spent in Xavier’s amiable company had given you a taste of the warmth that you hadn’t experienced ever since you lost your grandma and Caleb. Slowly, he had wandered into your heart, unknowingly made it livelier with his radiant presence. And before you knew it, you had grown accustomed to seeing him lounging on the couch with a book in hand or experimenting with a new recipe in the kitchen. You had grown so used to seeing him everyday that it was dismal not having him here right now.

You unlocked your smartphone to check if he had responded to any of your texts. Unfortunately, they were left unread, and he still wasn’t picking your calls either. For the first time in months, you felt the return of the grim uncertainty that you had shelved in the darkest corners of your heart. The unexpected revival of that terrible feeling of Xavier being like a distant star in this endless universe— sparkling right in front of you but always out of reach.

What could be holding him up for so long? The neighborhood ladies? Yeah..He probably bumped into some of them at the local store, and got stuck in their never-ending gossip. Yes, that must be it.

But what if it wasn’t?

What if he ran into a wanderer or two? What if he was struggling to fight by himself and couldn’t– NO!

You shook your head.

Xavier would never lose to a wanderer. He was the strongest hunter you knew. He was swift as light itself. He was deadlier with a blade. He was..

He was still not home.

The front door finally clicked open around thirty-nine minutes later, and to your immense relief, it was him. He was back. Xavier was home!

“I’m—”

He had barely passed the threshold when you wrapped your arms around him, unshed tears soaking into the fabric of his white shirt as you burrowed your face in it and sniffled quietly.

He was taken aback by the loving gesture but dropped the packages in his hands, his own arms immediately coming to settle around your waist, fingers kneading into your skin to provide some comfort.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“What took you so long?” You mumbled against his shirt, feeling his chest rise and fall with every breath he took.

His hold tightened ever so slightly and he lowered his head to rest it atop yours. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to get some of your favorite snacks. And I couldn’t find them at the nearest store, so I decided to go around exploring.”

Oh.

The heaviness in your heart began waning at those words and you felt your muscles easing in relief. Of course he was doing that. It was so like Xavier to go around searching for something you liked. So like him to always put your needs above everything else. Even if it might result in him arriving a little late at home.

“Okay..” You rubbed your face into his shirt, smudging it with more tears. “Just don’t go disappearing on me like that ever again.”

“It won’t happen again.” His lips moved softly against your hair. “I promise.”

You finally pulled away from him. A quick scan from the head to toe revealed no signs of injuries. But as he lifted a hand and passed it through his hair, you spotted a small cut on the back of his hand.

Immediately you grabbed his wrist and raised it to his face, your gaze silently urging him to explain the wound.

His eyes grew big and round like that of a kitten held captive. Then he finally took note of what had you so concerned, and answered. “I accidentally scraped my hand on the cashier’s desk.”

You smacked his chest lightly. “I was so worried!”

He blinked. “Worried for Xavier, your fake husband or Xavier, your mission partner?”

You smacked his chest again. And once more for good measure. “I was worried for Xavier who is very precious to me. Like a distant star that I’m always on the verge of losing.”

He smiled and wiped a tear stain from your cheek, his expression becoming more sincere as he lowered his face closer to your own. “You’ll never lose me. I swear.”

You knew they were mere words– sweet nothings whispered in the late hour of the night– yet they felt more reassuring than anything in the world when he looked directly into your eyes while saying it.

You helped him pick up the packages in comfortable silence, placed them in the kitchen, and then moved to the couch.

You sat down on one end of the couch, and let Xavier lie down on the rest, his head nestled in your lap. He closed his eyes and let out a breath. “This feels nice.”

“My lap?” You asked, feeling a heated blush spread across your cheeks.

He chuckled in that mellow cadence of his. “That too. But..” He yawned, then stared up directly at you, midnight blue eyes gleaming with reverence. “Being wanted.”

“Being wanted by the law?” You joked, fully aware of his vigilante side job as Lumiere, your fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest.

He brought up his own hand to entangle his fingers with yours on his chest, and shook his head. “It feels really nice being wanted..and cared for and missed by someone I admire so much.”

The honesty in his words stunned you into silence. Your mouth opened and closed several times as you tried to string together a coherent response but could not. So you squeezed his hand gently, the only way you could respond in that moment. But when you looked down to take in his reaction, you found his eyelids had fluttered closed, body already resigned to the exhaustion of the day.

You chuckled to yourself as you watched him turn in his sleep to rub his face more into your belly. It was unfair how he said the most awe-inducing things with a straight face and then just..fell asleep.

In the serenity of the night, you sneaked a kiss to his forehead and whispered to him not a promise but an astounding realization about yourself.

“I will always want you.”

let me know if there's something ooc

i’d been travelling the entire time yesterday and wrote this during that trip..hope you guys enjoyed it ♡

Read another fic based on 21 Days [HERE]

» MASTERLIST «

[viralarcadian]

MAN THOSE BODIES SURE CAN MELT

time to watch body melt

[acti-veg]

Hi there, as a recent vegan I just found your blog and saw you answer a lot about pets. I have a cat, I got her a little under a month before I fully went vegan. I love her to pieces, but when I go online to vegan spaces a lot of the posts there make me feel like shit for having her.

I was looking for a cat for ages from shelters and rescues but never found one, until this person posted online that they have a kitten but they can no longer care for it. Immediately we get her (no payment for her), and it’s a good thing we did because the woman had another cat who was essentially bullying her and bit a chunk out of her tail! She’s the sweetest girl (the cat) ever.

I’ve seen a lot of debating about cats being obligate carnivores and if that’s true or not and that true vegans shouldn’t have pets and it’s kinda put me in a whirlwind. The meat in her kibble is minimal (the kind to reduce dander) but it is still meat and I feel shitty for it but there’s not other options available. And there’s posts about vegan cat food but those have been debunked because of the small sample size and aren’t over a long period of time and a whole bunch of other stuff, and arguments about the ethics of forcing a vegan diet onto animals for our own feelings etc etc

I don’t know. I don’t really know why I’m writing this…I’m just overwhelmed, I guess? Can I even call myself vegan if I have a cat? Am I as bad as meat eaters? Am I a bad person? She’s literally my best friend now (she’s literally attached to me 24/7, which is nice but not in certain situations when having a cat on your lap isn’t practical, if you get what I mean, haha).

Sorry this has been all over the place and back. I guess it’s not so much as whether I can call myself vegan because now in all aspects I am so even I couldn’t call myself it I’d still be living as vegan as possible (and practical), but I’m concerned about being a bad person? She gets a good home, safety, love and I get a best friend, reduced anxiety and company when I’m on the toilet or in the shower. Can I really call myself ethical when I have a cat? And if I can’t call myself ethical then I’d have to be a bad person, right? Sorry again for bothering I’m just in a bit of a whirlwind and it’s that time when everything is cranked up to 11.

I don’t believe that there is anything about caring for a cat and providing a nutritionally appropriate diet for her that is not vegan, or not ethical. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that studies on plant-based diets for cats have been debunked, but it is fair to say that the research is still in its infancy. We certainly aren’t in a position to be able to recommend plant-based food for all cats at all stages of life, or say that it doesn’t carry any risk. With that in mind, when the animal is already in your care, the responsible ring to do is to feed them what you know to be safe.

As you spend more time in the vegan community, you’ll get a better sense for just how diverse opinions are within the movement. What I’m expressing here is just my own view, and there is room for nuance and debate among vegans. Too many of us though, insist that there is only one right way to be vegan, and that everyone else just isn’t vegan at all. They also like to play the ‘I am more vegan than you are’ game, though what they get out of it I don’t know.

You’ll need to form your own opinions on these debates, and more than that, develop some confidence about the position you have arrived that. I know vegans disagree with me about my position on pets, but I also know that not a single one of them is capable of making me feel any less vegan than I know I am. That comes with time and experience, but it will happen for you, and you won’t be so affected by contrary views or the fear of being judged.

Veganism is about avoiding animal exploitation as far as is possible and practicable, how we interpret that is up for debate, and that’s a real strength. Just don’t let someone else enforce their interpretation on you and convince you that it is the only correct way to think. Someone like me who has been vegan for a decade has no more authority than you do, and my opinion isn’t worth any more than yours is.

You’re doing your best for your cat, you’re giving her the best life you can and it sounds like she is lucky to have you. Don’t let anyone else convince you otherwise.

[bumblebeeappletree]

I’ve been looking for some recipes to share that’s good for dietary restrictions. “Why?” You may ask.

Well, it’s because I’ve been thinking about potlucks. Neighborhood block parties. About people coming together and feeding each other and enjoying each other companies and having fun.

But anywho, I’m thinking of putting them all on one post. Except for this particular article because unfortunately America Test Kitchen has 2 free articles per month for people who don’t subscribe to them. So while I’ll still post the link, I’m also having the article underneath the cut. Enjoy the food ideas to share with others!

Recently, I hosted a four-day gathering for nine people with 10 different dietary restrictions. To say I was worried would be a vast understatement.

We had everything: no gluten, no meat, no dairy, no mushrooms, and much more. All had varying degrees of importance from “just a preference” to “just in case, do we know where the closest hospital is?” 

Many restaurants are aware and accommodating of dietary issues, but it can be difficult when this problem arises at home. You can’t make different dinners for everyone.

We’ve compiled a list of suggested meals and preparation styles to cook for a crowd where everyone—including the host—enjoys the dinner, feels included, and stays healthy. 

(But first, an important disclaimer: There's more to cooking for people with special diets than just choosing a recipe. If you're cooking for someone with severe allergies, make sure they're comfortable with your serving setup.)

Spread-Style Meals That Offer Ultimate Flexibility 

My coworkers are food lovers and problem solvers. When I asked them what they would serve in this scenario, they all had the same answer: DIY-style meals offer the most flexibility for the diners and the least amount of stress for the cook.

Build-it-yourself meals allow people to select what foods work for them and avoid the ones that don't, without putting the responsibility on you.

For tackling this kind of meal, we suggest taking inventory of all guests' allergies (and the level of cross-contamination they allow) and then creating a themed dinner with choose-your-own elements. Make sure each person has at least one option at every step.

Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Build-Your-Own Bowls

Bring Sweetgreen home by making a couple plain bases, a few simple proteins, and some roasted veggies, and ending it all with a topping and sauce bar.

Bases: Everyday White Rice, Foolproof Oven-Baked Brown Rice, Quinoa Pilaf with Herbs and Lemon, Basic Farro Pilaf 

Proteins: Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts, Garlicky Broiled Shrimp, Teriyaki Tofu, tempeh steaks, sautéed eggplant with plant-based meat

Veggies: Skillet-Roasted Carrots and Parsnips; Skillet-Roasted Broccoli; Kale with Garlic, Red Pepper Flakes, and Lemon; Roasted Sweet Potatoes 

Sauces: Hummus with Smoked Paprika, dairy-free green goddess dressing, Roasted Garlic Chimichurri, Lemon Aioli, Tzatziki Sauce, Red Pepper–Almond Sauce 

Toppings: Microwave-Fried Shallots, shichimi togarashi, Microwave Cheese Crisps, Gim, Chili Crisp

2. Make-Your-Own Pizza

Whether you have an indoor or outdoor pizza oven or you simply make them on the grill or in your oven, making your own pizza is one of the easiest DIY meals because it mostly just requires the host to chop toppings and stretch dough.

Almost all ingredients can be store-bought, but if you feel like elevating the experience with a few homemade options, we have some suggestions.

Dough: Classic Pizza Dough, gluten-free pizza dough, thin-crust whole-wheat pizza 

Sauce: No-Cook Pizza Sauce, Basic Pizza Sauce, Perfect Pesto, alfredo sauce   

Toppings: Caramelized Onions, pepperoni, roasted vegetables, anchovies, Spicy Honey, dollops of homemade ricotta

3. Burrito/Taco Bar

For this simple spread, make a variety of proteins and vegetables, buy any additions, have a few homemade salsas on hand, and let your guests decide whether or not to use flour, corn, or other types of GF or dietary-specific tortillas.

Fillings: Plant-based chorizo, shredded chicken, sweet and spicy fried fish, grilled steak, bean and vegetable

Salsas: Fresh Tomato, Roasted Tomato–Lime, Salsa Roja, Quick Tomatillo, Mango-Mint, fresh corn and avocado   

Additions: Tangy Apple-Cabbage Slaw, Bell Pepper Slaw, Chipotle and Pepita Guacamole

Single Recipes for Multiple Dietary Requirements

When you don’t want to prepare an entire spread and instead just feel like making one dish that has several dietary accommodations baked in, we have some options for you.

I asked my coworkers: Whether vegan, vegetarian, soy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, or peanut-free, what do you make when trying to accommodate multiple diets?

1. Japchae 

This was my go-to meal when cooking for my large, dietary-restricted crowd and it was a hit. The base noodles, Korean sweet potato noodles, are naturally gluten-free and hold onto sauce really well. To keep the dish gluten-free, I used tamari instead of soy sauce which generally contains wheat. To accommodate a pescatarian and someone with a mushroom allergy, I just cooked these elements separately and left them on the side for people to sprinkle onto their own plates.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut–free, soy-free (using tamari), vegetarian, and vegan diets.

2. Breakfast Casserole 

Essentially a crustless quiche in a baking dish, a breakfast casserole is great for a varied crowd because you can swap any protein, vegetable, or spice in or out depending upon your group's dietary needs. One of our members raved, “One of us is dairy-free, the other has celiac, so this was perfect to please everyone."

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, peanut-free, tree nut–free, or vegetarian (provided they eat eggs) diets.

3. Red Lentil Soup 

This soup is spiced, rich, and nourishing because of the thick texture and nutrients that simmered red lentils bring. To make this a complete meal, pair it with a hearty salad and serve dressings on the side.

Who It’s Good For: Those following gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegetarian or vegan (if you use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth) diets.  

4. Vegan Barbecue Tempeh, Mushroom, and Bell Pepper Skewers

Tempeh is an awesome, naturally gluten-free (most often; check your brands) vegetarian protein for grilled skewers. You can add any vegetables, or even fruit, to your skewers and the same glaze can be used for any meat skewers you make separately.

Who It’s Good For: Those following gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegetarian or vegan diets. 

5. Walkaway Ratatouille

Most ratatouille recipes call for labor- and time-intensive treatments like salting and/or pressing to remove excess moisture from the vegetables. Not only is this meal largely hands off and fuss-free, but it's also ready in under an hour, and it’s chock-full of vegetables while accommodating some of the most common dietary restrictions.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, soy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets.

6. Falafel

Like a cross between a spread meal and a single dish, making falafel the centerpiece of your dinner allows you to provide lots of pita, sauces, and toppings on the side for people to choose from while you only have to cook one main element. Though this recipe uses all-purpose flour, an equal amount of chickpea flour can be substituted for a gluten-free version. To accommodate this substitution, we increase the water.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, soy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets.

7. Chili-Spiced Chicken Thighs and Potatoes

This recipe is a great example of a jazzed-up protein that is still widely applicable to different dietary needs without sacrificing flavor. It can serve as a complete meal as is, or for a vegetable element you can add some simply dressed greens on the side.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and soy-free diets.

8. Best Prime Rib

Provided your guests eat meat, you’re in luck. Though this is technically a plain protein, there is nothing plain about a centerpiece-worthy prime rib. Serve it with any vegetable sides, salads, or potatoes to round out the meal.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and soy-free diets. 

9. Chicken Shawarma 

Instead of going out for shawarma, we were able to create a home version by using the broiler and boneless chicken thighs. Chicken shawarma allows guests to assemble their own pita pockets with as much or as little sauce and vegetables as they desire. To accommodate more diets, make roasted tofu as a vegetarian option and provide gluten-free pita.

Who It’s Good For: Those following gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and soy-free diets.

Allergy-Friendly Swaps We Love

Sometimes a recipe is so close to fitting your restrictions but doesn't quite work because of an ingredient or two. We have a few standby swaps that are typically fine in small amounts without significantly altering the overall recipe.

* Swap tamari for soy sauce when you need to be gluten-free.

* Swap sunflower seed butter for peanut butter when you need a peanut- or tree nut–free alternative. 

* Swap vegan, non-dairy milks for cow’s milk. We like oat milk when baking due to its higher sugar content and almond milk in savory applications because it is more neutral. 

* Swap garlic or onions for garlic oil when alliums can cause an issue, such as with the Low FODMAP diet. 

[luneandbarbecue]

What do you think AGS’ favorite flowers would be?

Genesis:

He slightly admonishes himself for being so typical, but the rose is a beautiful flower and Genesis does find himself partial towards them. Though a common thought and option amongst people, it is still a brilliant and stunning when one appreciates them deeply, it's a classic for a reason. However, it is not the only flower he is fond of. There are rhododendrons, gladiolus, foxgloves, cornflowers, tulips, hibiscus, etc. The apple blossoms of the Banora White sport a pure-white skirt, hence the name, and he recalls feelings of accomplishment and appreciation as he witnesses its fickle cycle. Even if the memories of his hometown were at times marred with baggage, there were a few things which lightened the load. His family home would sprall and climb with bright bougainvillea and he would often read and memorise passages of LOVELESS under them. They were one of the good things he'd associate with Banora. Under the bougainvillea, he dreamed, fancying himself a warrior like his stories and picturing the future, under the bougainvillea, he met his first true friend one cicada-serenaded day.

Angeal:

As a person who grew to love plants, he can list a couple of flowers he enjoys; asters (daisies, chamomile, etc), hydrangeas ("did you know they change colours based on their pH levels?"), dandelions ("they are not weeds, they fed me"), forget-me-nots, dahlias, etc. Angeal is also fond of bougainvillea as they were almost everywhere in Banora. He had held hands with his parents along with them and he had met Genesis while the boy was running amok, pretending to be a hero. His mother was fond of gardenia's and he and because they weren't easy to grow and maintain, he and his dad worked hard to grow them for her, the smile on her face was worth it. Lavenders are truly a joy to work with. They are hardy to a majority to climates, a pretty colour to look at - Genesis said that they go well with his eyes, a compliment which stuck with him-, smell great, and they are practical to the boot. You can mix them with vinegar to make a cleaner, use them to flavor baked goods, tea and meat, use them to calm yourself, what more can you ask for! He will always love this humble flower.

Sephiroth:

It was rare for Sephiroth to see a flower in the wild. At the beginning, he'd only see them in the pictures of books, in a gilded vase belonging in the company. Flowers were one of the things that would give him a semblance of 'life' outside of his sterile, harsh cage and he found himself appreciating them, from those which are arrayed in shops to those which grow wildly in tree and meadow. In general, he finds himself partial towards white liliums for their elegance, cherry blossoms (and similar), peonies, morning glory's and small blooms such as baby's breath and sweet alyssum's for their humble, yet pretty presence. He wondered what kind of flowers would his mother like. Maybe a pale yellow one, like the ribbon she wore on her ponytail. In an encyclopedia, he saw a yellow flower called a 'daylily' and immediately thought of his mother's ribbon. A sentence said that they symbolised 'reunion', and he closed his eyes, pressing his hand to his heart. The pink carnation is also held close to his heart, for people say is symbolised a mother's love.

Bonus: He also likes sunflowers cause BIG.

(I tried to balance the amount but I ended up giving Seph an extra sunflower, forgive me hehe)

[rjzimmerman]

Here's the link to the report from the Union of Concerned Scientists described in this story from EcoWatch:

A new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has found that Tyson Foods dumped hundreds of millions of pounds of pollutants into U.S. waterways from 2018 to 2022. The pollutants came from company facilities including slaughterhouses and processing plants.

UCS analyzed publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and found that Tyson Foods processing plants released 371.72 million pounds of pollutants into waterways from 2018 to 2022. Half of the pollutants were dumped in waterways of Nebraska, Illinois and Missouri. The group published the findings in a report titled Waste Deep: How Tyson Foods Pollutes US Waterways and Which States Bear the Brunt.

“As the nation’s largest meat and poultry producer, Tyson Foods plays a huge role in our food and agriculture system and has for decades exploited policies that allow big agribusiness corporations to pollute with impunity,” Omanjana Goswami, co-author of the report and an interdisciplinary scientist with the Food and Environment Program at UCS, said in a press release. “In 2022, the latest year for which we have data, Tyson plants processed millions of cattle and pigs and billions of chickens, and discharged over 18.5 billion gallons of wastewater, enough to fill more than 37,000 Olympic swimming pools.”

Waterways in Nebraska had the most wastewater pollutants dumped by Tyson Foods plants, about 30% of the total or 111 million pounds, UCS reported. The pollutants dumped in Nebraska included 4.06 million pounds of nitrate, which a 2021 study linked to increased risks of central nervous system cancers in children.

According to the National Provisioner, Tyson Foods is one of the top meat and poultry processing companies in the U.S. From 2018 to 2022, it generated 87 billion gallons of wastewater, based on EPA data. This wastewater can include pathogens and microorganisms (such as E. coli) and slaughterhouse byproducts, such as body parts of animals, feces and blood.

As noted in the report, the dumped pollutants contained high amounts of nitrogen (34.25 million pounds) and phosphorus (5.06 million pounds), which can contribute to algal blooms in waterways. As UCS pointed out in its analysis, many Tyson Foods facilities are located near waterways that are home to threatened and endangered species. 

The facilities are also positioned near historically underserved communities, leading to additional pollution near and burden on vulnerable populations.

“Pollution from these plants also raises environmental justice concerns,” Stacy Woods, co-author of the report and research director for the Food and Environment Program at UCS, said in a press release. “We know from previous research that almost 75% of water-polluting meat and poultry processing facilities are located within one mile of communities that already shoulder heavy economic, health or environmental burdens. In mapping these plants, we found Tyson largely fit that pattern, with many plants located near communities where people live with more pollution, less socioeconomic and political power, and worse health compared to other areas of the United States.”

The report provides insight into a larger problem. As The Guardian reported, meat processing pollution in the U.S. is much higher and goes beyond Tyson Foods.

“There are over 5,000 meat and poultry processing plants in the United States, but only a fraction are required to report pollution and abide by limits,” Goswami told The Guardian. “As one of the largest processors in the game, with a near-monopoly in some states, Tyson is in a unique position to treat even hefty fines and penalties for polluting as simply the cost of doing business. This has to change.”

[marzipanandminutiae]

What Is Vegan Leather Made Of? Many Plant Leathers Are Being Used (greenmatters.com)

Yes, plant leather is a great idea (not better than animal leather, in my personal opinion, but that's down to each individual's thoughts on the matter). But unfortunately much of it just can't replicate many of real leather's beneficial properties- and a lot of plant leathers heavily involve plastic in their production. (source)

Look, ALL clothing production needs to be more sustainable at this point. The chemicals involved in tanning actual leather, unless it's organic leather, aren't good for the environment either. And I will never rag on someone for their choice to avoid real leather- we're all just trying, I hope, to make the best choices according to our values and within the confines of a broken system (as long as we're not hurting anyone else). For me, the massive habitat loss and environmental destruction caused by plastics production and waste is a greater evil than the deaths of individual animals in the production of meat and/or leather. So I choose real leather and try to make each piece last as long as I can, aware that any choice I make will have environmental impacts and is not perfect. Someone else might see it differently, and I really am not in a position to judge their choices.

However.

The term "vegan leather" is blatant greenwashing, and 99% of the time it applies to plastic. If people prefer to wear plastic to avoid real leather, that's fine, but they- and moreover companies -need to be honest about that. Just like synthetic fabrics should be called plastic, so should synthetic leather. Even some of the allegedly "plant-based" stuff, it turns out.

I'm honest that my real leather is animal hide. Time for the faux-green fashion industry to display some honesty of its own.

[luulapants]

why on god's green earth do you consider fishing punk??? like why are we tormenting animals for food and entertainment??? how is that sticking it to the man?

I've been a vegetarian for about a decade, for a lot of reasons. But there's one moment that in retrospect formed the idea of it for me:

Thanksgiving when I was 13, my dad and I went to his friend's place in a small town in the desert. His friend knew the local turkey farmer, so in exchange for our turkey that year, we helped slaughter the turkeys for the whole town. They were too big for the chicken beheading bucket, which meant we would have to straddle their backs and slit their throats. It was pretty gory. Then we plucked and gutted them.

Before we killed the turkeys, my dad pulled me aside and gave me a very serious talk. He said, "This is going to be the most honest meal of your life. You're going to look that animal in the eye and see that it's giving its life for you. You're going to thank it for dying so you can eat." And we sprinkled tobacco and strands of our hair and thanked the turkeys for dying for us. Then we killed them.

I'm not a vegetarian because I think it's wrong to eat an animal. I'm a vegetarian because I think the way we usually obtain meat in the modern day is immoral. Getting a nondescript little package of flesh, completely divorced from what animal it came from, having no concept of the sacrifice that was made. Knowing that factory meat production is unnecessarily cruel and wasteful and is destroying our planet. Knowing that divorcing our meat from the animal is part of the fucking marketing plan. Meat processing companies don't want us to think about where it comes from!

Very quickly after I stopped eating meat, I lost the ability to digest it, and that's fine. If that weren't the case, I might occasionally eat fish if I pulled it from the water myself and thanked it and gutted and cleaned it. I might even go hunting.

Demanding people adhere absolutely to plant-based diets, guilting them about it, that's the sort of thing that makes you feel morally superior but is demonstrably ineffective in changing anyone's minds. When I see someone doing that, I assume they care more about feeling self-righteous than they do about the cause they're talking about. I don't expect everyone to swear off meat entirely, and I think it's much more effective and realistic to get people to consciously reduce their meat consumption. Only eating ethically sourced meat, which is expensive or labor-intensive, is a great way to make that happen. Exposing people to the reality of animal death and meat preparation is a great way to make that happen. I think every person who eats meat should have the experience of killing an animal with their own hands. I think that would make way more of a difference than whatever the hell you're doing.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - October 15-21

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1. EV owners volunteer to drive voters to the polls in 11 states (and you can too)

“ChargeTheVote.org is a nonpartisan voter education and engagement initiative to enhance voter turnout in the 2024 election by providing zero-emission transportation in electric vehicles (EVs) to local polling locations. ChargeTheVote will also host a webinar for those who are interested in participating this coming Tuesday, October 22 at 7pm Eastern time.”

2. Kenya moves 50 elephants to a larger park, says it’s a sign poaching is low

“The elephant population in the […”Mwea National Reserve”…] has flourished from its capacity of 50 to a whopping 156 […] requiring the relocation of about 100 of [them…. The] overpopulation in Mwea highlighted the success of conservation efforts over the last three decades.”

3. Australian start-up secures $9m for mine-based gravity energy storage technology

““We expect to configure the gravitational storage technology [which the company “hopes to deploy in disused mines”] for mid-duration storage applications of 4 to 24 hours, deliver 80% energy efficiency and to enable reuse of critical grid infrastructure.“”

4. Africa’s little-known golden cat gets a conservation boost, with community help

“[H]unting households were given a pregnant sow [… so that they] had access to meat without needing to trap it in the wild. […] To address income needs, Embaka started […] a savings and loan co-op[… and an] incentive for the locals to give up hunting in exchange for regular dental care.”

5. 4.8M borrowers — including 1M in public service — have had student debt forgiven

“That brings the total amount of student debt relief under the administration to $175 billion[….] The Education Department said that before Biden's presidency, only 7,000 public servants had ever received student debt relief through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. […] "That’s an increase of more than 14,000% in less than four years.””

6. Puerto Rico closes $861M DOE loan guarantee for huge solar, battery project

“The solar plants combined will have 200 megawatts of solar capacity ��� enough to power 43,000 homes — while the battery systems are expected to provide up to 285 megawatts of storage capacity. [… O]ver the next 10 years, more than 90 percent of solar capacity in Puerto Rico will come from distributed resources like rooftop solar.”

7. Tim Walz Defends Queer And Trans Youth At Length In Interview With Glennon Doyle

“Walz discussed positive legislative actions, such as codifying hate crime laws and increasing education[.… “We] need to appoint judges who uphold the right to marriage, uphold the right to be who you are [… and] to get the medical care that you need.””

8. Next-Generation Geothermal Development Important Tool for Clean Energy Economy

““The newest forms of geothermal energy hold the promise of generating electricity 24 hours a day using an endlessly renewable, pollution-free resource[… that] causes less disturbance to public lands and wildlife habitat […] than many other forms of energy development[….]”

9. Sarah McBride hopes bid to be first transgender congresswoman encourages ’empathy’ for trans people

““Folks know I am personally invested in equality as an LGBTQ person. But my priorities are going to be affordable child care, paid family and medical leave, housing, health care, reproductive freedom. […] We know throughout history that the power of proximity has opened even the most-closed of hearts and minds.”“

10. At Mexico’s school for jaguars, big cats learn skills to return to the wild

“[A team of scientists] have successfully released two jaguars, and are currently working to reintroduce two other jaguars and three pumas (Puma concolor). [… “Wildlife simulation”] “keeps the jaguars active and reduces the impact of captivity and a sedentary lifestyle[….]””

October 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)