globalbriefs critterbiz/Shutterstock.com
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Beverage Battle
Water Overtakes Sweet Sodas
Ioan Panaite/Shutterstock.com
After decades of strong growth, bottled water consumption has outpaced carbonated soft drinks to become the largest beverage category by volume in the United States. Michael Bellas, chairman and chief executive at Beverage Marketing Corp. says, “When Perrier first entered the country in the 1970s, few would have predicted the heights to which bottled water would eventually climb.” In 2015, U.S. bottled water consumption totaled 39.3 gallons per capita, while carbonated soft drinks fell to 38.5 gallons. Bad publicity about the health effects of sugary beverages is at the root of the trend, with some states considering making them off-limits to food stamp purchasers and cities voting for soda taxes to combat diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Mock Meats
Vegetarian Protein Options on the Rise
Pat_Hastings/Shutterstock.com
Last year, the United Nations International Year of Pulses recognized dry peas, lentils and chickpeas because they are affordable, nutritious and have a low eco-footprint. New, innovative, plant-based proteins will extend the options. The Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition reported that vegetarians can save at least $750 annually over meat eaters by reducing or replacing consumption of animal products and switching to sources that adhere to higher animal welfare standards. The Impossible Burger simulates the sizzle, the smell and the juicy first bite of the real thing to rave reviews. The similar Beyond Burger is a hit at Whole Foods Markets. Tyson Foods is investing in the protein alternative company, Beyond Meat, and launching a $150 million venture capital fund to support plant-based foods. Some large German meat producers are also seeking to diversify with plant-based versions of traditional meaty favorites.
16
Greater Richmond Edition
NARichmond.com
Last Call
Endangered Species Protection Act May Go Extinct The federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed in 1973, strengthened earlier federal protections for animals that had been nearly wiped out by humans. The act faces opposition from those that believe it both unfairly protects animals that poach livestock and restricts land use. At a recent hearing titled Modernizing the Endangered Species Act, Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, head of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said the ESA is not working anymore. Natural Resources Committee Chairman Republican Congressman Rob Bishop of Utah opines that the act has never been used for the rehabilitation of species and instead has been controlling the land, saying, “It has been hijacked.” Yet Daniel M. Ashe, president and chief executive of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, says, “The Endangered Species Act is the world’s ‘gold standard’ for conservation and protection of animals.” According to many experts, the world’s flora and fauna are experiencing a global extinction crisis caused by human activity, but we have also learned how to protect species and help them recover. Eight species that would probably have disappeared already were it not for the ESA include the black-footed ferret, humpback whale, bald eagle, American alligator, grizzly bear, Florida manatee, California condor and gray wolf.