Officially established in 1998, Animals Asia campaigns for improved conditions and rights for various species across Asia. It operates award-winning sanctuaries in Vietnam and China (and is the only organization with a bear sanctuary in the latter).

These sanctuaries are home to hundreds of bears who were rescued from the bile trade.

What is bile farming?

In order to extract bile from their gallbladders, bears are subject to invasive, painful procedures. The bile, thought to have healing properties, is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It also appears in some household products like shampoo and toothpaste.

Demand for bile products comes predominantly from Asia, but such items are also found in Australia, Canada, and the US.

According to Animals Asia, the “cruel” trade is a source of “extreme suffering” for thousands of bears across the world’s largest and most populous continent.

One of the most “humane” bile extraction methods involves creating a permanent open passage in the animals’ gallbladder via their abdomen. The surgery – rarely performed by a veterinarian – often results in infections, many of which become fatal.

The way the animals are housed is similarly disturbing, the charity says. Bears are permanently kept in metal cages; many are so small that bears are left unable to turn around or stand on all fours.

Some bears are caged as cubs, and held captive for up to 30 years.

Rescuing bears from bile farms

Animals Asia has rescued 640 bears from the trade to date. With its bear rescue center in Tam Dao, Vietnam, approaching capacity, the nonprofit has announced a new sanctuary that will take in all of the remaining farmed bears in Vietnam.

The 12-hectare sanctuary, situated in the mountainous surroundings of the Bach Ma National Park, will be unveiled tomorrow (May 27). And when all farmed bears in Vietnam are freed and released into the sanctuary, the country’s bear bile trade will officially be history.

“This is a proud moment for humanity, Animals Asia, Vietnam, and our supporters around the
world”, commented Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson. “Together, in collaboration with the Vietnam government, we bring about this milestone in protecting wildlife across the country.”

In 2017, Animals Asia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Vietnamese government, committing to the closure of all bear farms in Vietnam.

The MOU outlined an agreement between the two parties, which would see them working together to free the then-1,000 animals who were still in the industry.

Speaking on the new sanctuary, Robinson added: “Today we show that courage, empathy, tenacity, and determination have brought about significant change, as we step up and demonstrate the way forward in helping to save the world’s vulnerable species.”

Celebrity support

A wealth of high-profile names have thrown their support behind Animals Asia and its efforts, including Dame Judi Dench, Alan Cumming, Stephen Fry, James Cromwell, Slash, Kesha, and Peter Egan.

Actors Tara Buck (True Blood), Torrey DeVitto (The Vampire Diaries, Chicago Med), and Marina Squerciati (Chicago P.D) are all in Vietnam to celebrate the unveiling of the sanctuary. They’re joined by television personality Josh Packham (Love Island), photographer Katarina
Benzova, and actor Tang Thanh Ha (Mỹ Nhân Kế).

In a video seen by Plant Based News, Ricky Gervais (who just donated £142,414.47 to Animals Asia), asked the public to “stand by them in this mission” and “raise their paw for the moon bear.”

Dr. Jane Goodall offered her “warm congratulations” to the nonprofit. “Animals Asia is ending bear bile farming in Vietnam,” she said. “To protect these beautiful moon bears, please help Animals Asia build this last bear sanctuary and make sure that in Vietnam, there will be no bear left behind.”

The post Vietnam’s Bile Trade Will Soon Be History As Last 310 Bears Are Rescued appeared first on Plant Based News.

Kardashian, who has a sizeable 313 million followers on Instagram alone, joined Beyond Meat as the company’s first Chief Taste Consultant.

The partnership will see the A-lister promoting “her favorite Beyond Meat products” with recipes and creative content, according to a press release.

She will also feature in the Beyond Meat newsletter.

“I’ve been focusing on going more plant-based and can tell you that Beyond Meat is my absolute favorite – I love how all their products not only taste amazing but are also good for me and my family,” Kardashian said in a statement. She added that her four children are “obsessed” with her Beyond Beef taco recipe, the Beyond Burger, and Beyond Chicken Tenders.

“As my fans know, my fridge and freezer are fully stocked with Beyond Meat’s products.”

Celebrity influence

Kardashian added that she’s “thrilled” by the collaboration, and “really inspired” by Beyond Meat’s mission.

“[I] love that they are not only making plant-based eating delicious and accessible, but are doing so in a way that benefits both people and the planet,” the media personality said.

“It’s empowering to know that the small changes I’m making for my family, like incorporating more Beyond Meat into our meals, can add up to make a big impact.”

Kardashian joins Shay Mitchell, Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg, and Liza Koshy as an ambassador of Beyond Meat. The brand, founded in 2009, is now available at roughly 135,000 retail and foodservice outlets in more than 90 countries.

Beyond Meat’s star-studded lineup of celebrity backers is no accident. Besides the additional attention the company undoubtedly receives, research indicates that celebrities and social media can influence what people eat.

A survey conducted earlier this year, commissioned by dairy conglomerate Arla, found that one in three adults make dietary choices based on what they see on social media.

Additionally, a Harvard review published in 2015 looked at the role celebrities play in spotlighting the climate crisis, especially its ties to animal agriculture.

It asserted that “celebrities can help draw attention to an issue and galvanize youth engagement.”

And, that “food is one such area where celebrities can help link the impacts of climate change to our consumption habits.”

The article concluded: “Celebrities can help by relating the causes and impacts of climate change to existing socio-cultural practices, facilitating not only a questioning of cultural values (such as meat and dairy consumption) but simultaneously making the necessary changes to our habits appear more positive, achievable and accessible.”

The post Here’s Why Kim Kardashian Is Now An Ambassador For Beyond Meat appeared first on Plant Based News.

Monkeypox is a rare infection that typically manifests as a rash, which develops into fluid-filled blisters. The rash is often preceded by symptoms such as a high temperature, headaches, muscle aches, backaches, swollen glands, shivering, and/or exhaustion.

It usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptom to appear after infection.

Monkeypox in the UK

Monkeypox is typically found in Africa, but more than 130 cases have now been discovered in 19 countries outside of the continent, cropping up in Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia.

There are now 71 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the UK – 70 in England and one in Scotland, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Last week, on May 16, there were just seven confirmed cases in the UK.

According to news outlet i, the recent outbreak is the first time person-to-person transmission of monkeypox has occurred in the UK.

But officials have assured that while the number of cases is “unusual,” the illness is usually mild, clearing up in two to four weeks.

The government has ordered more than 20,000 vaccine doses as a precaution, i reports.

How do you catch monkeypox?

Monkeypox is predominantly spread by wild animals – namely rats, mice, and squirrels – in west and central Africa. A human can catch the disease if they are bitten by an infected animal, or if they come into contact with infected blood, body fluids, blisters, or scabs.

You can also catch monkeypox by eating undercooked meat from an infected animal, according to the NHS, or by handling infected “products” like animal skin and fur.

Touching clothing, bedding, or towels used by anyone with the monkeypox rash also raises the risk of infection. The coughs and sneezes of an infected individual can spread the disease too.

How to avoid getting monkeypox

To lower the risk of contracting monkeypox, the NHS advises people to “only eat meat that has been cooked thoroughly.” Individuals should also not eat or touch bushmeat (the flesh of wild animals).

Washing your hands regularly with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, can also protect against the infection.

The NHS has urged people to stay away from wild or stray animals, animals that look unwell, and dead animals.

Additionally, the organization stresses the importance of maintaining distance from people who are unwell and may have monkeypox, including not sharing bedding or towels.

Those who have monkeypox are advised to self-isolate, and stay away from pets.

Dr. Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser for the UKHSA, said: “If anyone suspects they might have rashes or lesions on any part of their body, particularly if they have recently had a new sexual partner, they should limit their contact with others and contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service as soon as possible, though please phone ahead before attending in person.”

Visit the NHS website for more information.

The post NHS Issues Advice To Meat-Eaters Amid Outbreak Of Monkeypox appeared first on Plant Based News.

Animal rights organization PETA questioned Valentino about its use of Angora wool, a fluffy fabric made of Angora rabbit hair.

The fashion house confirmed that it will not use Angora again, beginning with its upcoming 2022 autumn/winter collection.

Founded in 1960, Valentino has used Angora to make sweaters, tops, and capes. The brand’s logo-buckled wool and Angora-blend cape retails at around €2,500.

PETA applauded Valentino for the decision. PETA said: “The future of fashion lies in materials that no animal had to suffer or die for.”

In May, Valentino committed to ditching fur from all of its future collections.

Valentino CEO Jacopo Venturini said in a news release: “The fur-free stance is perfectly in line with the values of our company. 

“We are moving full-steam ahead in the research for alternative materials in view of a greater attention to the environment for the upcoming collections.”

Angora wool

The industry has come under fire for its treatment of Angora rabbits, which are one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit.

Angora farmers pluck hairs from the rabbits rather than shave them, because longer fibers sell for more money.

In 2016, French animal rights group One Voice released undercover footage taken in six different farms over a six-month period. The Independent wrote about the ‘shocking’ footage, which showed the rabbits ‘apparently squealing in pain’.

PETA Asia conducted a similar investigation in 2013. It found that the ‘sickening abuse’ of Angora rabbits was ‘standard practice’ on Chinese Angora farms. The rabbits in the videos were living in ‘tiny, filthy cages, surrounded by their own waste’.

Burberry, Gucci, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger have now all banned Angora products.

The post Fashion House Valentino To Phase Out Rabbit Fur appeared first on Plant Based News.

The site opened in Camden, London yesterday.

Moreover, Bowditch’s business partner is former YouTube star, Michael Pearce.

Clean Kitchen

As well as being vegan, Clean Kitchen is dubbed to focus on sustainability too. Additionally, it hopes to become an ‘influencer favorite’ in the shipping containers on Camden’s Buck Street Market.

The business grew from a small delivery-only kitchen in Brighton. Now, it will serve açai bowls, juices and smoothies in the morning, and poké bowls, paninis and signature burgers after 12pm to 42 sit-down covers inside the market. It joins a handful of delivery-only locations across the capital.

Bowditch says the restaurant is one step closer to ‘clean living taking over the world’.

In a statement sent to PBN, she added: “We were very selective when choosing where to launch our debut restaurant.

“And with sustainability at the forefront of Clean Kitchen, Buck Street Market provides the perfect location to grow our brand. 

“The destination itself embraces sustainability like no other and aligns seamlessly with our goals to become an entirely carbon neutral company.

“As well as our initiative to implement the UK’s first re-usable delivery system to support our zero-waste packaging strategy. We can’t wait to open.”

Verity Bowditch

With a lifetime passion for animal welfare, Verity Bowditch announced she wants to make veganism more ‘mainstream’.

Via Instagram, she added: “I cannot wait to get this site open and change perceptions about vegan food. 

“It’s not a vegan restaurant, it’s a restaurant where everything in it just happens to be vegan. Also… it’s bloody cool inside.”

The 25-year-old has previously spoken about being raised vegetarian since birth. Watching cows being milked near her rural Dorset home ‘didn’t sit right with me’, she revealed in an interview.

Veganism left her feeling ‘amazing’ and full of energy, she told Closer.

Made In Chelsea

At the launch of Clean Kitchen, Olivia Bentley, and Sophie Habboo, who feature on the show alongside Bowditch, also attended.

Moreover, the famous YouTube brothers Conor Maynard and Jack Maynard showed their support.

But Bowditch isn’t the first Made In Chelsea celebrity to open a vegan restaurant.

Co-stars and siblings, Lucy Watson and Tiffany Watson opened Tell Your Friends three years ago.

It came after Lucy launched a vegan cookbook, Feed Me Vegan, which features her journey to veganism.

You can find out more about Clean Kitchen here

The post Made In Chelsea Star Verity Bowditch Debuts Vegan Restaurant: Clean Kitchen appeared first on Plant Based News.

After the news circled on social media, a frenzy ensued. Moreover, many questioned why Skimmed Milk Powder was now listed as an ingredient.

Bournville

Whilst Bournville has been considered ‘accidentally vegan’ since its launch, Vegan Food UK announced yesterday that its Giant Buttons are no longer vegan-friendly.

This is because now, milk is an active ingredient.

Vegan Food UK is an online organization sharing vegan food news, reviews, vlogs, and more. It operates across multiple social media platforms, with a Facebook group, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and Instagram account.

‘This is really sad times as we all know the cruelty to cows in using dairy in anything’, the organization wrote.

Cadbury

One user branded the move a ‘very poor’ decision both in terms of ethics and marketing. Another said it was ‘disappointing’.

Currently, Cadbury’s Bournville Dark Chocolate bars remain free from dairy. However, all the brand’s products carry the allergy advice warning that they are not suitable for anyone who is allergic to milk.

One of its competitors unveiled a vegan version of one of its most popular products in the UK this year.

The Swiss conglomerate Nestlé’s vegan KitKat is now available nationwide. 

However, it’s currently unclear whether Cadbury plans to follow in its footsteps and release a vegan version of its Giant Buttons in the future.

PBN has contacted Cadbury for comment

The post Cadbury Causes Stir After Bournville Product Found To Be No Longer Vegan appeared first on Plant Based News.

The Faroese hunts lead to the death of up to 1,000 pilot whales and other dolphins a year, according to non-profit marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd.

The Faroe Islands’ grind has attracted criticism from animal rights groups. However, others argue that the hunt is sustainable and an important part of Faroese history.

Pilot whales

Deceptively named, pilot whales are actually one of the largest types of dolphin. There are two species: short-finned and long-finned. The latter are the primary targets of the grind. Male long-finned pilot whales have a lifespan of 35 to 45 years and can reach weights of 2,700kg. Females, on the other hand, grow to be around 1,300kg and can exceed 60 years of age.

Pilot whales are pregnant for longer than humans – for around 12 to 16 months. The calf nurses anywhere from 18 to 44 months, according to NOAA Fisheries, which is responsible for the stewardship of ocean resources in the United States. Some pilot whales, especially older and non-reproductive females, ‘babysit’ for other whales, by taking turns swimming with their offspring. 

On its website, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) describe pilot whales as ‘very sociable’, ‘incredibly loyal’, and having an ‘inquisitive nature’. They typically live in multi-generational pods; pilots tend to stay with the pod they are born into for the entirety of their lives. Pods are close-knit and often play, hunt, travel, and rest together.

“Pilot whales are extraordinarily social; their strong bonds with one another motivate them to stick together through thick and thin, even when that means putting themselves at risk,” WDC says. 

It’s this tendency to stay together that puts them at a greater risk, according to the American Cetacean Society. “Humans have taken advantage of the social nature of pilot whales. ‘Drive fisheries’, where groups are herded to the beach for slaughter, have taken place on Cape Cod, Newfoundland, the Faroe, Shetland, and Orkney Islands, Iceland, and Norway,” the society writes online. 

What is the Faroe Islands’ grind?

The Faroe Islands is home to around 53,000 people. There are 18 islands in the archipelago and all but one are inhabited. The total land area in the Faroe Islands is 540 square miles, while the total marine area is 105,792 square miles. 

It’s believed the Faroe Islands grind originated around the time the first Norsemen settled there – roughly the 9th century. Whaling in the Faroe Islands is for non-commercial food purposes. Nowadays, it’s arranged by the local communities of the 17 inhabited islands and is regulated by the Faroese authorities. However, there is no quota in place for the number of whales that are killed.

The grind can happen at any time. When somebody spots a pod of whales, the ‘grind master’ is notified and the hunt commences. Locals use boats and jet skis to herd the whales into a designated bay and then use hooks, ropes, and mønustingari (a Faroese knife designed to cut through whales’ spines) to capture and kill the animals.

Why does whaling take place in the Faroe Islands?

Páll Nolsøe is the Communication Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture of the Faroe Islands. He told Plant Based News: “Traditional means of food production from local resources are an important supplement to the livelihoods of Faroe Islanders. These include mountain grazing sheep, coastal fishing for household use, and occasional catches of pilot whales and other small cetaceans.”

Locals obtain meat and blubber from the grind which is distributed for free within local communities. Individuals who cannot participate (for instance, due to illness) are able to sign up to receive a portion. Nolsøe notes that the meat replaces food that would otherwise need to be imported.

“[Whaling] has enabled the Faroe Islands as an island nation to maintain a relatively high degree of self-sufficiency in food production,” Nolsøe explained. “In the Faroe Islands it is considered both economic and environmental good sense to make the most of locally available natural resources, and to maintain the knowledge required to use what nature can provide in a harsh oceanic environment.”

Whale meat as food

Whale meat is eaten all year round in the Faroes, according to Kate Sanderson, who is the Head of Representation for the Government of the Faroe Islands. She says: “It’s eaten fresh when there has just been a whale drive, but it is also stored and preserved in both modern and traditional ways – freezing, wind-drying, dry-salted, or stored in brine.”

The Faroe Islands’ government whaling website highlights that pilot meat contains protein, iron, and vitamins A and B. Moreover, the whale blubber (the thick layer of tissue under the skin) is considered to be ‘vitalising’. This is especially important in a country whereby vitamins from the sun and vegetables are lacking, the website adds.

Health risks

But the meat and blubber also contain environmental contaminants, including heavy metals (like methylmercury) and organochlorines (like polychlorinated biphenyl and dioxin). These pollutants are typically higher in concentration in predators like pilot whales. This is because they eat multiple sources of food which also contain pollutants, leading to a compounding effect. 

The Faroese Food and Veterinary Authority released recommendations in 2011 suggesting that adults should not eat more than one meal of pilot whale meat and blubber a month. Women who plan to have children should not eat blubber at all. Moreover, women who are planning to get pregnant within the next three months, who are pregnant, or who are breastfeeding, should not eat the whale meat, either, the report says.

But young people in the archipelago are beginning to reject the concept of whales as food altogether. Jónrit Halling is an Associate Professor in Molecular Life Sciences. She conducted study which found that just 17 percent of young women eat whale meat each month, whereas nearly half (47 percent) said they rarely or never eat it. No women younger than 40 said they eat whale meat and blubber frequently. And this year, Save the Reef reported that less than 20 percent of Faroese islanders consume the pilot whale meat and blubber at all.

Cultural significance of whaling in the Faroe Islands

Whaling in the Faroe islands is almost always for food purposes. Sometimes the teeth are collected and made into small pendants but only for private use, Sanderson says. 

But the practice is significant to the Faroese in other ways, too. “[Whaling] is still seen as an important part of being self-sufficient in food resources – maintaining the skill and knowledge needed to get food from the sea is an expertise that has been handed down over generations,” Sanderson explained. “It is a community-based activity that requires many people to work together quickly and efficiently when a school of whales is found and driven into a bay which is also very important for community cohesion. 

“Not to mention the practical economic value of whale meat and blubber as free food for local households – food that does not have to be imported or transported over long distances, and which is not produced through industrial processes.”

Bjarki Dalsgar? is a 35-year-old Faroese who has participated in some hunts He told National Geographic in 2014: “I doubt you’ll experience the sense of community and teamwork anywhere else in the world. Everyone comes together to help provide for the community and for themselves.”

Whaling controversy

The Faroe Islands grind has come under fire over animal cruelty concerns. Sea Shepherd engages in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife and conserve and protect the world’s oceans from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction. It described the hunts as ‘horrific’ and ‘senseless’. The non-profit has been visiting the Faroe Islands since the 1980s to protest and try to block boats. But after multiple arrests and a ban prohibiting the marine life protection group from interfering, Sea Shepherd now shares graphic footage of the hunts online to raise awareness.

Various pieces of footage show whaling participants driving into the animals, inserting hooks into their blowholes, and slicing the spinal cords of every member of the pod, including calves and pregnant mothers. The blood turns the surrounding waters a deep red color. Graphic footage of the practice has recently been revealed in Netflix documentary Seaspiracy, which exposes the impact of the environmental and ethical impact of commercial fishing.

Most recently, Sea Shepherd has published footage of a hunt that took place on June 27, 2021, in Hvannasund, where 123 pilot whales lost their lives. You can view this in the player below.

Animal welfare

Many believe the hunts must stop altogether. One Faroese local, Rannvá Johansen, told ABC News that the grind is outdated. “When whalers locate the whale pods, they are driven ashore, [which can take] a very long time,” she said. “The whales then get stressed and the entire whale family can see each other being killed and hear screaming from their babies. They can only wait for themselves to feel the knife.”

Concerns about animal welfare led to an update of the law; now participants must have a licence to partake. The licence is attained by attending a two-hour class by a local veterinarian. This is where hunters learn to use the mønustingari, which paralyses the animals and cuts the blood supply to the brain.

Multiple petitions have called for the Faroese government to outlaw the grind. A petition launched by Sea Shepherd in 2017 has garnered more than 250,000 signatures. Two other petitions circulating in July 2021 – one sponsored by the Rainforest Site and the other launched by Animals Australia – have already gathered more than 70,000 and 170,000 signatures respectively.

Other threats to pilot whales

While pilot whales are not classified as endangered, most organizations agree that human activity is the primary threat to the species. Like countless marine animals, pilot whales are swept up as bycatch during commercial fishing expeditions and become entangled in discarded fishing gear. A 2020 WWF report found that between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear enter the ocean each year. And the number of species affected by this pollution has doubled since 1997. This can be either by entanglement or accidentally ingesting the plastic. Now, 66 percent of marine mammals are affected.

Commercial whaling is another point of concern, according to the International Whaling Commission. During the 20th century, an estimated 2.9 million whales were killed for commercial reasons, with multiple species affected. Blue whale populations have declined by up to 90 percent compared to pre-whaling estimates.

The future of whaling

Whaling has ceased in many parts of the world. In 1982, the International Whaling Commission announced a whaling moratorium from the 1985/1986 season onwards. This is a temporary ban to the commercial hunting of all whale species. It remains in place, however, Iceland, Norway, and Japan still hunt whales each year. Iceland lodged a reservation and Norway registered an objection to the ban. Moreover, Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission altogether in 2019.

The Faroe Islands are exempt from the ban because the International Whaling Commission does not govern activities involving small cetaceans like pilot whales.

Public opinion

Much of the general public opposes whaling. A 2005 survey conducted in southwest Scotland found that 96.4 percent of participants were against the whaling that takes place in Japan and Norway. No participants said they strongly support whaling. The following year, the WWF conducted a poll in St Lucia, the Solomon Islands, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis. When asked whether participants believed their country should return to commercial whaling, most said no. Sixty-four percent of the Marshall Islands, as well as the Tuvalu participants, rejected it. And 76 percent and 72 percent of Palau and the Solomon Islands participants, respectively, did not believe whaling should take place.

Whale watching

When Iceland pledged to end its annual whale hunt last year, it began to promote whale watching as an alternative, according to Forbes. In 2018, 345,000 people engaged in whale watching in Iceland compared to 72,000 in 2003. Similarly, in Japan, the number of people whale watching grew from 103,000 to around 234,000 from 2008 to 2016.

Forbes commented: “While demand for whale meat is on the decline, interest in whale watching is on the rise. Turns out, watching whales could be more profitable than killing them.”

The post Whaling In The Faroe Islands: What You Need To Know About The Controversial Tradition appeared first on Plant Based News.

Pet owners can choose between beef or tuna flavours and concentrations of 250mg or 500mg.

The tinctures are free from THC, GMOs, preservatives, and artificial flavors. They are high in omegas, which are said to promote skin, fur, heart, and hormone health.

CBD for pets

The animal-friendly formulas were developed to help relieve stress, joint pain, and muscle discomfort. They may also improve a pet’s sleep and mood, especially anxiety.

Research published last year found that more than 70 percent of dogs may experience some kind of anxiety, like separation anxiety or sensitivity to noise.

Barker Wellness says its products are especially good for older dogs.

“If you have an ageing or disabled pet, you know how difficult it can be to watch your furry friend suffer through pain caused by injuries and chronic issues like arthritis,” the company writes on its website.

“And while prescription medications can be effective, they often come with many risks, worrying side effects, and even the potential for a lethal overdose,” it continued.

Separate research from last year looked at the impact of CBD on dogs suffering from osteoarthritis. It documented improvements in symptoms for dogs who took the CBD in just one month.

Travis Barker

Barker has been vegetarian since he was 13. He became vegan after surviving a plane crash in 2008. The musician told Men’s Journal that since making the change, he has ‘endless amounts of energy’.

Barker teamed up with animal rights organization PETA in 2017 for a Never Be Silent Campaign. For the initiative, he and his vegetarian daughter pledged to always speak up for and help animals.

The post Vegan Blink-182 Star Travis Barker Launches CBD Products for Pets appeared first on Plant Based News.

Aleph Farms is based in Israel, but is planning large scale global commercialization of its beef steaks.

The funding round was led by Disrupt AD and Growth Fund of L Catterton. The latter is the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm, while DisruptAD is one of the largest venture platforms in the Middle East.

Multi-national beef supplier Cargill, who is an existing investor, also participated.

Aleph Farms has now raised more than $118 million. Co-founded in 2017, the company’s short-term goals include scaling-up manufacturing and expanding operations internationally. It also plans to expand its product lines and technology platform prior to its initial market launch in 2022.

Didier Toubia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. He commented that the capital will bring the company ‘significantly closer to our vision of providing secure and unconditional access to high-quality nutrition to anyone, anytime, anywhere’.

He added: “We see our investors as partners for building this new category of meat and it was critical to us that they share our strong commitment to improving the sustainability of our global food systems.”

Related articles…

What is cultured meat?

Cultured meat – also called lab-grown meat or clean meat – is produced by in vitro cell cultures of animal cells.

Scientists harvest muscle cells from a living animal, which can be done without harming them.

They then nurture the cells with sugar and salts. This helps the cells function as if they were still inside the animal, so that they multiply and create muscle tissue.

Cultured meat is biologically identical to traditional meat, but may sidestep some health risks linked to animal meat. For instance, researchers say lab-grown meat is less likely to be infected by contaminants like E. coli bacteria.

Further, scientists can make the meat without antibiotics, and can alter the product to have less fat and cholesterol.

The post Aleph Farms To Launch Cell-Based Steak Following $105M Fundraising Round appeared first on Plant Based News.

The new Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill is now passing through the House of Lords.

The House is making amendments which recognise that invertebrates are sentient and can experience pain, too.

Invertebrates are creatures that don’t possess a backbone, like crabs, lobsters, and squid. Invertebrates make up around 90 percent of all animal species.

The law would mean that these animals must be stunned or chilled before being boiled. Further, Baroness Hayman of Ullock proposed an amendment that would outlaw shrink-wrapping or posting live crustaceans.

Maisie Tomlinson is the Co-Director of Crustacean Compassion. She told the Times: “It is wonderful to hear that the government is planning to support the inclusion of decapods and cephalopods in the sentience bill.”

She continued: “There is more than enough evidence for the ability of these sensitive, captivating creatures to feel pain and suffer. They undergo appalling treatment in the food industry.”

Do lobsters feel pain?

The general population has accepted for some time that crustaceans don’t feel pain. However, a growing bank of evidence suggests otherwise. This has motivated countries like Austria, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland to outlaw live boiling.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA), which supports the UK ban, said there is a ‘decade of compelling scientific evidence of [the animals’] ability to feel pain’.

In 2013, research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology found that shore crabs react to electric shocks and actively avoid them.

Study author Bob Elwood said to BBC News: “I don’t know what goes on in a crab’s mind… But what I can say is the whole behavior goes beyond a straightforward reflex response and it fits all the criteria of pain.”

Earlier research by the same team found similar trends in prawns and hermit crabs. The results caused Elwood to question whether the way we treat invertebrates is ‘reasonable’.

He explained: “Even if you are reluctant to believe the data as being strongly suggestive [that the animals experience pain], is it worthwhile imposing this on billions of animals every year throughout the world?”.

A video of a crayfish tearing off its own claw to escape being boiled went viral in 2018. The crayfish escaped from a pot of boiling broth at a restaurant in China. The diner who filmed the clip decided to adopt the animal following the incident.

The post Boiling Lobsters And Squid Alive Could Soon Be Banned In The UK appeared first on Plant Based News.