The Americas
US study finds that climate change increases risk of foodborne illness
Climate change is expected to increase the risk of foodborne illness from Salmonella enterica, according to a new study in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Salmonella infects 1.2 million people in the U.S. annually, most commonly through the consumption of contaminated fresh produce. The study found that Salmonella thrives on crops, especially when plants are already weakened by other bacterial diseases like bacterial leaf spot. High humidity, which is likely to increase with climate change, further boosts Salmonella survival and growth in plants. This means that as the climate becomes warmer and more humid, the risk of Salmonella outbreaks from raw produce could rise significantly.
Uber launches robot delivery in Los Angeles
Uber and Coco have partnered to launch sidewalk-roaming delivery robots on Uber Eats. Coco, an urban robot delivery company, has now started delivering for Uber Eats in Los Angeles and will expand into additional cities in future months. “As we continue to popularize robot delivery in Los Angeles, our partnership with Coco drives us another step towards a more sustainable and autonomous future for delivery,” Noah Zych, global head of autonomous mobility and delivery at Uber, said in a statement.
Asia Pacific
McDonald’s India launches gen AI-designed gourmet burgers
McDonald’s India is launching a new Signature Collection of Gourmet Burgers, designed using generative artificial intelligence (gen AI). As part of the ‘Imagined in AI’ campaign, customers can create their ideal burgers using an AI chatbot, which suggests a variety of ingredients including classic and more exotic options. The initiative aims to engage customers by incorporating their culinary ideas into the upcoming burger collection, which will debut at select locations on 4 September 2024.
Malaysia Starbucks operator posts US$8.8m loss due to anti-Israel boycott
Berjaya Food, which operates the Starbucks coffee chain in Malaysia, posted a loss in the fourth quarter as consumer sentiment on the Middle East conflict hurt sales. Customers in the country have been boycotting the US coffee chain’s local franchise amid accusations that it supports Israel’s Gaza offensive. The company, part of conglomerate Berjaya Corporation Bhd., reported a net loss of 38.2 million ringgit (US$8.8m) for the three months that ended in June, a reversal from a profit of 17.28 million ringgit a year ago, it said in a financial report. Sales fell by more than half. “The significantly lower revenue and pre-tax loss incurred in the current quarter under review were mainly due to the current sentiment in relation to the conflict in the Middle East,” Berjaya Food said in the report.
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence will include vegan military rations from December
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has announced plans to include kosher, halal and vegan military rations starting from December 2024. The new ready-to-eat foods aim to meet the needs of military personnel, respecting their beliefs, health considerations, and ethical principles. According to the announcement, consultations have already occurred with various religious leaders and communities, as well as animal rights groups. Dmytro Klimenkov, deputy minister of defense for Ukraine, commented, “We know that many of our troops follow different religious traditions or have special dietary needs, so we actively work with religious communities and nutrition experts. We also understand the importance of ethical choices, so plant-based dry rations will be an important part of our new strategy. This is not only a matter of nutrition, but also of respect for the beliefs of each fighter.”
UK brewer set up the world’s first Fairtrade-certified brewing supply chain
UK-based brewer Brewgooder has launched the world’s first Fairtrade-certified brewing supply chain for fonio grain, a climate-resilient superfood from West Africa. The initiative, developed in collaboration with Guinea’s farming cooperatives, aims to ensure fair pricing for farmers while fostering sustainable growth. The supply chain, which was completed in six months, is open to other UK brewers and businesses under the name ‘Open Grain.’ Brewgooder’s Fonio Session IPA, the first beer made with this grain, is now available in major UK supermarkets. The move is expected to significantly boost the Fairtrade market and support hundreds of farmers in Guinea.
Elly Earls
