Alexander J. Stein

27 Nov 2025

Personal update: After some reflection, I decided to share that I have #cholangiocarcinoma, a rare & aggressive #cancer. This has little to do with the focus of my posts here, but I hope that it can help raise #awareness of this serious #illness. More details at: AJStein.de/cholangio.htm

doi.orgWhat Makes a Product Sustainable? A US‐Based Consumer Survey Finds That Consumers Overemphasize the Impact of Packaging on Product SustainabilityUnderstanding the drivers behind consumers’ purchasing decisions is crucial to supporting the sustainability of the global food system. This study examined consumers’ sustainability-related beliefs,...

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When judging the #sustainability of food products, #consumers in the US focus on recyclability & packaging, but less on the #environment impact of the food product itself. They also show low adoption of #plantbased alternatives to meat & dairy, and do not understand… doi.org/10.1111/1750...

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… the sustainability benefits of #shelflife extension and #foodwaste reduction methods—all of which are potentially more impactful. Education about the benefits of alternative #protein sources and the role of preservatives in reducing food waste may help grow a more sustainable #foodsystem.

Unlike for previous #ElNiño events, warning mechanisms have provided ample lead time for this event—with strong, consistent signals and high confidence. Yet, #financing for anticipatory action lags behind, and humanitarian needs and response plans remain underfunded: doi.org/10.2760/0355... #climate

In Norway, food products with higher emissions are typically domestically sourced #beef, #dairy & seafood, while #imports are mostly lower-impact cereals & #vegetables. Substituting red #meat with plant-based #proteins can reduce emissions by 36% … doi.org/10.1016/j.jc... #PlantBased +

… Dietary shifts offer greater #emissions reduction potential than changes in food origin or transport. >> What we eat matters more than where that food comes from.

doi.orgPlanetary health diet adherence and frailty in older adults: evidence from the Seniors-ENRICA cohortsAbstractBackground. Frailty is a major determinant of disability and adverse outcomes in older adults. The Planetary Health Diet (PHD), a plant-based dieta

Frailty is a key determinant of #disability in older adults. The largely #plantbased Planetary Health Diet is linked to lower #mortality and chronic disease risk—and now also to lower odds of #frailty, supporting the potential role of plant-based #diets for healthy aging: doi.org/10.1093/gero...

In a new study, individuals adhering to a long-term #vegan diet show bioclinical markers of improved metabolic #health compared with omnivores: doi.org/10.1186/s401... #plantbased #diets

doi.orgGlobal warming and the National Cattlemen’s Association 1986–1996In the mid-1980s, scientific studies first highlighted the role of anthropogenic methane in global warming and emissions from cows as an important source. This knowledge expanded views of responsibili...

Already in the 1980s scientific studies stressed the role of #methane in global warming and identified #emissions from cows as an important source. The beef industry reacted by reframing the findings, denying #globalwarming, misrepresenting the contribution from cattle and… doi.org/10.1371/jour... +

… and ridiculing dietary change as a form of #climate mitigation—all to convince the public that beef production & consumption should not be a focal point of global warming mitigation. #Cattle #Cows #Beef #Meat #ClimateChange #Industry #Communication #PR

Alexander J. Stein reposted

October 24, 1983 – EPA releases study on sea-level rise allouryesterdays.info/2023/10/23/2...

Alexander J. Stein reposted

allouryesterdays.infoOctober 23, 1989 - Republican Governor of New Jersey issues climate executive order - All Our YesterdaysThirty five years ago, on this day, October 23rd 1989 Republican Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean issues an executive order. Yep. it was a broadly bi-partisan issue, until 1990-1991, and the beginni...

October 23, 1989 – Republican Governor of New Jersey issues climate executive order allouryesterdays.info/2024/10/22/o...

Alexander J. Stein reposted

Oct 23, 1955 – LA Times article “our weather is changing” “Many scientists believe that the earth’s rising temperatures may be partly due to the six billion tons of CO2 dumped into the earth’s atmosphere each year from the smokestacks of industrial plants…” allouryesterdays.info/2023/10/22/o...

Alexander J. Stein reposted

allouryesterdays.infoOctober 22, 1969 - Edmund Muskie mentions CO2 build up - All Our YesterdaysFifty four years ago, on this day, October 22, 1969, an article by Edmund Muskie, a senior American politician (someone seen as a contender for president, and had been the prospective VP on Hubert Hum...

Replying to @allouryesterdays.bsky.social

October 22, 1969 – Edmund Muskie mentions CO2 build up allouryesterdays.info/2023/10/22/o...

doi.orgMonitoring the nutrition quality of Europe’s food offer - Publications Office of the EUFood reformulation policies for healthier food and beverage products available to consumers are considered among the most cost-effective actions to reduce unhealthy diets. Through different EU-funded programs (EUREMO, and Joint Actions Best-ReMaP and JANPA), several European countries were able to access funding and share best practices to support the harmonized collection of data from packaged foods and beverages. This harmonised data is hosted in the Food and Beverages Labels Explorer (FABLE), created by the Joint Research Centre, and is displayed in an interactive and intuitive way for policy makers, researchers, and the public. This report presents the results of the analysis of the European food-offer across five priority categories (breakfast cereals, bread products, fresh dairy & desserts, delicatessen meats and soft drinks) across 21 European countries. Our findings show that reformulation is both possible and urgently needed, with wide country-to-country variations in nutrient content and many sub-categories displaying large distributions of sugars, fats, salt and fibre. The evidence directly supports EU policy levers - targeted reformulation incentives, updated nutrient benchmarks, and enhanced FABLE-based monitoring - to accelerate healthier product portfolios and reduce diet-related disease burden.

There is wide variation in nutrient content (sugar, fats, salt, fibre) within a range of food products in Europe. This means it is possible to re-formulate products to achieve healthier product portfolios and reduce diet-related disease burdens: doi.org/10.2760/5669... #nutrition #health

The #protein content & recovery of #plantbased burgers can be equivalent or higher than that of beef #burgers – while providing #nutrition benefits absent in #beef that may contribute to cardiovascular #health and add functional food properties, but texture can be improved: doi.org/10.1016/j.fo...

#PlantBased products do not involve animals and therefore improve #AnimalWelfare more effectively than certified “animal-friendly” animal-based products. Extending animal welfare #labels to plant-based products can improve #consumers animal-friendly choices: doi.org/10.1016/j.fo... #labeling

Higher adherence to the largely #plantbased EAT-Lancet diet is linked to lower #diabetes risk, per a meta-analysis involving +700k participants. Promoting sustainable, plant-based #diets should be an effective strategy to address the public #health challenge of diabetes: doi.org/10.1186/s128...

wemakeit.comThe Swiss Cheese of Tomorrow – Crowdfunding on wemakeitHelp us bring a new Swiss hard cheese to life: made from locally grown organic lupin, using traditional cheesemaking methods. Together, we can keep the craft while changing the system.

Leveraging #tradition: A Swiss creamery explores how #cheesemaking can evolve—while preserving the craft, know-how & traditions that make Swiss #cheese special. Following established processes, they just change the raw material, using plant milk from #lupins grown by… wemakeit.com/projects/the... +

… Swiss farmers instead of #milk from Swiss cows. They do not replace #farmers or cheesemakers but build a #valuechain around them, limiting dependency on imported feed, reducing environmental harm & animal exploitation—and preserving a valued craft, local traditions & the pleasure of eating cheese…

ajsteinde.blogspot.comCheesemaking: Leveraging tradition for the futureCheese is deeply rooted in Swiss culture, built on generations of knowledge about fermentation, cultures, ripening and craftsmanship. Now a ...

>> This is what is lost in many discussions around #plantbased alternatives, that such products can offer opportunities, be appealing in their own right, and help regions leverage the reputation of their food, use local knowledge, and continue old traditions: ajsteinde.blogspot.com/2026/10/chee...

bryantresearch.co.uk95% of UK Consumers Understand That Meat-Free Products Do Not Contain Meat - Bryant ResearchNew survey data shows UK consumers not confused by "meaty" plant-based packaging

Respondents in the UK were shown meat-free products and asked “Does this product contain #meat from an animal?” Only 2% answered wrongly. #Consumers are not confused by the words #sausage or #chicken when products are clearly labelled as “meat-free”… bryantresearch.co.uk/insight-item... #labeling +

… or “100% #plantbased”. POV: It would be interesting to check how many mistakes respondents make when asked about other products. A certain percentage probably doesn’t take questions seriously and answers quickly or randomly.

Most #parents say they understand the Nutri-Score, the #Nutrition Information Panel & the ingredients list, in a German survey. Most say the #NutriScore helps them recognize healthy foods quicker and is easy to use. 60% say #labeling motivates them to choose healthier foods: doi.org/10.1186/s128...

#Review: Plant-based #diets are linked to a significantly lower risk of type 2 #diabetes, improved glycemic control & reductions in medication. They are a safe & practical option for the prevention & management of type 2 diabetes: www.doi.org/10.20935/Aca... #PlantBased #Health

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tech.au.dkUniversity spin-out sets out to turn CO₂ into food proteinReact Foods will use technology developed by researchers from Aarhus University and international partners to turn CO₂, hydrogen and microorganisms into protein-rich ingredients from yeast.

A university start-up uses microorganisms to turn #CO₂ and #hydrogen from renewable electricity into #yeast biomass to develop #protein ingredients that could be used instead of #egg or #dairy protein—without more #landuse and with less exposure to external shocks: tech.au.dk/en/about-the...

doi.org Navigating the nexus of food, energy, and ecology | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development JAFSCD: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Publication of the Thomas A. Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems

Competition for land among food & feed production, renewable #energy, and ecological restoration creates policy challenges. #Diets, farming practices, and #foodwaste shape land demand and GHG #emissions, while decisions on #bioenergy versus wind & photovoltaic deployment… doi.org/10.5304/jafs... +

… affect both #landuse and #climate outcomes. An assessment of trade-offs in a German region finds that shifts to more #plantbased diets and waste reduction strongly reduce land footprints and expand surplus land for #renewableEnergy and ecological restoration, that #organic production requires…

… more land due to lower #yields, and that bioenergy crops are inferior to wind & photovoltaic when satisfying energy demand and preserving land for #carbon sequestration & #biodiversity. Dietary guidelines should align with climate objectives, emphasize reduced #meat consumption & promote #legumes.

joint-research-centre.ec.europa.euEuropean agriculture hit hard by exceptionally hot and dry summerExpected summer crop yields fell sharply and grasslands deteriorated across several European regions.

European #agriculture was hit hard by—what was still—an exceptionally hot & dry summer. Prolonged heat pushed crop production down and reduced the availability of animal feed in affected regions, leading #livestock farmers to reduce their herds: joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and...

vegansociety.comEmpathy IndexAre we a nation of animal lovers?

85% of UK adults describe themselves as “animal lovers”, and 65% find that #FactoryFarming of animals is unacceptable. Yet, 85% of farmed animals in the #UK are factory farmed 🤷‍♂️ www.vegansociety.com/get-involved... #Consumers #AnimalRights #Farming

wcrf.orgAre more young people getting cancer? | World Cancer Research FundIn recent years, researchers around the world have reported a shift where more cancers are being diagnosed in people under 50.

More cancers are diagnosed in people under 50. Modifiable behaviours can increase an individual’s #cancer risk—incl. overweight, little physical activity, #diets high in red & processed #meat, fast foods, sugary drinks and low #fibre. Diets high in whole grains, fruit… www.wcrf.org/about-us/new...

… Diets high in whole grains, fruit, #vegetables & #beans can lower cancer risk—which matters as ~40% of cancers are considered preventable if individuals change their behaviours. #EarlyOnset #Health #Behavior #Prevention #PlantBased

meatmatters.substack.comWill anyone eat plant-based and cultivated meat?Yes: When alt meats reach taste and price parity with conventional meat, consumers, meat companies, and governments all have reasons to want them to win.

Surveys on #plantbased & #cultivatedmeat indicate consumer interest is likely to grow once products exist at taste & price parity. Then the benefits of such #meat can take center stage and the food sector & governments have incentives to facilitate adoption: meatmatters.substack.com/p/will-anyon...

doi.orgFrontiers | Elevated CO2 and the hidden hunger crisis: mechanisms, magnitudes, and mitigation of micronutrient dilution in staple cropsHidden hunger results from inadequate intake of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and other key micronutrients. Over 2 billion people worldwide are affected, especially ...

Elevated CO2 can boost #yields in C3 crops, but also reduces grain mineral levels, esp. of #iron & #zinc and when combined with #drought, warming or low nitrogen. Rising #CO2 levels threaten the #nutrition quality of grains. #Biofortification and other interventions can help: doi.org/10.3389/fpls...

#LCA: The current US diet imposes the highest #environment burdens alongside relatively poor #nutrition performance, largely attributable to high consumption of animal-derived proteins, particularly #beef, and refined grains and processed fruit products. This diet… doi.org/10.1016/j.cl... +

… is characterized by elevated saturated fat, imbalance in fatty acid & limited micronutrient diversity—attributes consistently linked to increased risk of non-communicable diseases. More plant-forward #diets have more favorable #sustainability profiles. #PlantBased #Health #Meat #Dairy

cscp.orgAccelerating Alternative Protein Uptake: What European Behvioural Pilots Show UsHow can alternative proteins move from niche products to widely accepted food choices? The answer does not lie in a single solution. While product quality and availability remain essential, wider upta...

Changing the #foodenvironment can make alternative proteins easier to choose, but interventions that are perceived as restrictive can create resistance, and long-term #adoption depends on taste, texture, price, convenience & trust. Messages focusing on enjoyment… www.cscp.org/accelerating... +

… #health, sustainability or shared benefits do better than pressure or negative framing, esp. when paired with practical support. Coordinated action across the #foodsystem that creates opportunities for repeated positive experiences helps mainstreaming the uptake of alternative #protein products.

In the French food supply, #vegetables & #legumes have favorable nutrition & #environment profiles, red & processed #meat has poor profiles. (The #nutrition score covers both "good" & "bad" nutrients, the environment score GHG #emissions, #landuse, and many other indicators.) doi.org/10.1016/j.cl...

ers.usda.govBiotechnology in U.S. Crop Production: A Primer on Adoption, Costs, and Regulatory Structure | Economic Research Service

For major field crops, #GMOs have achieved widespread adoption in the US (over 90% of corn, soybean & cotton). As GM seeds provide improved pest control, yield stability & labor savings, #farmers pay higher prices than for conventional seeds. Now… www.ers.usda.gov/publications... +

… #geneediting can enable faster & cheaper development of a wider variety of crop traits, also in specialty crops, potentially reducing development #costs by 40-85%, given the right regulatory environment. #PlantBreeding #Biotechnology #Regulation

#Review: Adherence to #plantbased diets is linked to lower risk of cognitive decline & dementia, while higher intake of red & processed #meat is linked to increased risk. Plant-based #diets may reduce the risk of #dementia, incl. Alzheimer's disease: doi.org/10.1039/d6fo... #Alzheimers #Health

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doi.orgReduction in land area devoted to agriculture from a hypothetical universal vegan diet in CanadaReduction in land area devoted to agriculture from a hypothetical universal vegan diet in Canada, Harvey, L D Danny

If animal food products in #Canada were replaced with high-protein plant food products, agriculture's #landuse could decrease by 80%, as crop production is much more efficient than animal production. The land could be put to better uses. Such a switch of #protein sources… doi.org/10.1088/2976... +

… would also entail large reductions in GHG #emissions, in air & water #pollution, in #fertilizer requirements, and in water use. Plant-based diets are also demonstrably healthier than typical Western diets. #PlantBased #Diets #Footprint #Meat #Dairy #FoodSecurity #Health

rp-online.deSchifffahrt in Düsseldorf: Frachter im Hafen ist befreit – „Wir haben es aus eigener Kraft geschafft“Ein Schiff steckte seit Montag in einem der Düsseldorfer Hafenbecken fest. Mitarbeiter der Reederei konnten den Frachter schließlich befreien. Probleme mit dem niedrigen Rheinpegel gibt es aber noch i...

In case anyone wondered, the water in the #Rhine river is still super low. Only now a cargo #ship got stuck for two days: rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/... #ClimateChange #Heatwave #Drought #AllForgotten #NewNormal

Red & processed #meat consumption is linked to adverse impacts on health, #animalwelfare & #environment. In a UK survey over half of all respondents were willing to consume #plantbased alternatives, driven by #health considerations. Taste & texture were the most important… doi.org/10.1016/j.ij... +

… attributes. Having tried meat alternatives is linked to willingness to eat them in future, which highlights opportunities for initial exposure.

#Legumes contribute to #soil fertility, improve #nutrition, diversify cropping, and strengthen #resilience. However, in #Africa poor seed systems, biotic & abiotic constraints, low #policy support, post-harvest losses, and uneven #research investment limit their potential: doi.org/10.1007/s125...