Alexander J. Stein
@ajstein.bsky.social
Agricultural economist interested in food, nutrition, health, sustainability. PhD. EU. Private account. Posts ≠ endorsements. Blocking trolls, unsupported claims etc. Posts in German at @ajstein-de.bsky.social. More infos at www.AJStein.de
Pinned
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
#Germany: The demand for #plantbased alternatives in the out-of-home market will grow, predict eight out of ten #foodservice establishments: proveg.org/de/presse/be... #milk #meat
ProVeg-Bedarfsumfrage 2025: So steigen Effizienz und Vertrauen in pflanzliche Alternativen
Die Nachfrage nach pflanzlichen Alternativen wird wachsen, prognostizieren acht von zehn gastronomischen Betrieben.
proveg.org
November 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
#Germany: The demand for #plantbased alternatives in the out-of-home market will grow, predict eight out of ten #foodservice establishments: proveg.org/de/presse/be... #milk #meat
EFSA: The re-assessment of the #foodsafety & #biosafety of a GM maize variety supports the conclusion that it is as safe as conventional #maize varieties regarding potential effects on #health and the environment: doi.org/10.2903/j.ef... #plantbreeding #GMO #environment
Assessment of genetically modified maize NK603 × T25 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (dossier GMFF‐2023‐21252)
Following the submission of dossier GMFF-2023-21252 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer CropScience LP, the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority was...
doi.org
November 28, 2025 at 6:27 PM
EFSA: The re-assessment of the #foodsafety & #biosafety of a GM maize variety supports the conclusion that it is as safe as conventional #maize varieties regarding potential effects on #health and the environment: doi.org/10.2903/j.ef... #plantbreeding #GMO #environment
People opposing veganism engage in sense-making processes to justify their stance, using cognitive, moral & cultural rationalizations that allow them to maintain an anti-vegan perspective while minimizing internal conflict & social discomfort that arises from rejecting… (1/3) doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-...
Not on my plate: a cross-cultural qualitative study on anti-vegan sense-making and resistance
Purpose. Resistance to plant-based diets remains a significant barrier to sustainable food transitions. This study explores how anti-vegans – individuals who stand vehemently against plant-based diets...
doi.org
November 27, 2025 at 6:15 PM
People opposing veganism engage in sense-making processes to justify their stance, using cognitive, moral & cultural rationalizations that allow them to maintain an anti-vegan perspective while minimizing internal conflict & social discomfort that arises from rejecting… (1/3) doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-...
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
November 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
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
Scientists used #CRISPR to turn a simple #fungus into a fast-growing, meatlike #protein with a much smaller #climate & #environment footprint that outperforms (even) #chicken farming in #landuse & water impact: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202... #plantbreeding #geneediting #fungi #meat
This engineered fungus cuts emissions and tastes like meat
Scientists used CRISPR to boost the efficiency and digestibility of a fungus already known for its meatlike qualities. The modified strain grows protein far more quickly and with much less sugar while...
www.sciencedaily.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Scientists used #CRISPR to turn a simple #fungus into a fast-growing, meatlike #protein with a much smaller #climate & #environment footprint that outperforms (even) #chicken farming in #landuse & water impact: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202... #plantbreeding #geneediting #fungi #meat
#BirdFlu is spreading in dairy #cows and infecting 100s of other species—incl. humans (two of whom died). As more #dairy workers are infected, the #virus could mutate into a strain that is more lethal—and transmissible among humans: civileats.com/2025/11/25/w... #AvianInfluenza #zoonoses #health
What the Rise in Bird Flu Means
While it remains seasonal in poultry, the disease is spreading in dairy cows and infecting hundreds of other species—including a few humans.
civileats.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:46 PM
#BirdFlu is spreading in dairy #cows and infecting 100s of other species—incl. humans (two of whom died). As more #dairy workers are infected, the #virus could mutate into a strain that is more lethal—and transmissible among humans: civileats.com/2025/11/25/w... #AvianInfluenza #zoonoses #health
#Consumers value the ability to assess #nutrition & #environment impacts of food via #labels, prioritising nutrition over #sustainability (which includes #animalwelfare). For less affluent consumers, #costs also represent an important determinant of food choices: doi.org/10.1111/ijcs... #health
Consumer Attitudes to Combined Sustainability and Nutrition Labelling of Foods: An Exploratory Study
To transform our food system to ensure that our diets are simultaneously healthy and sustainable, it is important to ensure that consumer demand and preferences support increased production and avail...
doi.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:29 PM
#Consumers value the ability to assess #nutrition & #environment impacts of food via #labels, prioritising nutrition over #sustainability (which includes #animalwelfare). For less affluent consumers, #costs also represent an important determinant of food choices: doi.org/10.1111/ijcs... #health
#Sustainability: A future-oriented #labelling policy includes a limited number of mandatory #labels for key attributes, interpretative colour-coded multi-level labels (like #NutriScore), scientifically validated assessment algorithms, and #communication to promote awareness: doi.org/10.1007/978-...
The Role of Sustainable Food Labels in Transforming the Food System
The role of sustainability labels in politics and business is a subject of controversial debate. Based on experiences from Germany, this chapter outlines the challenges and limitations of verified lab...
doi.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
#Sustainability: A future-oriented #labelling policy includes a limited number of mandatory #labels for key attributes, interpretative colour-coded multi-level labels (like #NutriScore), scientifically validated assessment algorithms, and #communication to promote awareness: doi.org/10.1007/978-...
#LongCOVID presents a global #health & economic challenge. Its economic impacts (macroeconomic, cost-of-illness, microeconomic) are estimated at an annual burden of $1 trillion globally. Annual lost earnings in the USA alone are estimated at ~$170 billion: doi.org/10.1038/s415... #COVID #costs #econ
Economic burden of long COVID: macroeconomic, cost-of-illness and microeconomic impacts - npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine - Economic burden of long COVID: macroeconomic, cost-of-illness and microeconomic impacts
doi.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
#LongCOVID presents a global #health & economic challenge. Its economic impacts (macroeconomic, cost-of-illness, microeconomic) are estimated at an annual burden of $1 trillion globally. Annual lost earnings in the USA alone are estimated at ~$170 billion: doi.org/10.1038/s415... #COVID #costs #econ
While #vegan children show lower urinary #iodine, it is not linked to differences in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels vs vegetarians & omnivores. Overall, #plantbased diets support normal child growth and provide cardiometabolic benefits: doi.org/10.1038/s438... #health #diets #nutrition
Dietary intake, nutritional status, and health outcomes among vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous Czech families - Communications Medicine
Heniková, Ouřadová et al. conduct a cross-sectional study among Czech families with long-term vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous families to compare clinical outcomes, nutritional status, and diet adeq...
doi.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
While #vegan children show lower urinary #iodine, it is not linked to differences in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels vs vegetarians & omnivores. Overall, #plantbased diets support normal child growth and provide cardiometabolic benefits: doi.org/10.1038/s438... #health #diets #nutrition
Much of the flavor of pork & other #meat comes from the #animals' fat. A company cultivating pork fat in bioreactors can create #meatballs, #sausages, #salami & #bacon with plants that taste darn near like #pork products—without killing pigs:
grist.org/climate-ener... #plantbased #pigs #cleanmeat
grist.org/climate-ener... #plantbased #pigs #cleanmeat
This pig's bacon was delicious. But she’s alive and well.
Mission Barns is cultivating pork fat in bioreactors and turning it into meatballs and other products. Honestly, they're pretty darn good.
grist.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Much of the flavor of pork & other #meat comes from the #animals' fat. A company cultivating pork fat in bioreactors can create #meatballs, #sausages, #salami & #bacon with plants that taste darn near like #pork products—without killing pigs:
grist.org/climate-ener... #plantbased #pigs #cleanmeat
grist.org/climate-ener... #plantbased #pigs #cleanmeat
There is a substantial body of work providing guidance on the question of childhood vaccine safety, which affirms that childhood #vaccines are safe and have long-established benefits of preventing #illness & averting death: www.nationalacademies.org/news/stateme... #vaccination #health #children
National Academies - Statement on CDC’s Updated Vaccine Guidance
National Academies respond to CDC’s updated vaccine guidance, offering scientific context and clarity on vaccine safety.
www.nationalacademies.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:04 PM
There is a substantial body of work providing guidance on the question of childhood vaccine safety, which affirms that childhood #vaccines are safe and have long-established benefits of preventing #illness & averting death: www.nationalacademies.org/news/stateme... #vaccination #health #children
In a large prospective cohort study of participants with type 2 #diabetes, higher healthful #plantbased dietary pattern scores are linked to a lower risk of diabetic microvascular complications, esp. diabetic kidney diseases: doi.org/10.1016/j.aj... #diets #health
Redirecting
doi.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:14 PM
In a large prospective cohort study of participants with type 2 #diabetes, higher healthful #plantbased dietary pattern scores are linked to a lower risk of diabetic microvascular complications, esp. diabetic kidney diseases: doi.org/10.1016/j.aj... #diets #health
Modern #diets harm human & planetary #health, as the demand for #protein led to an over-reliance on #animal products. While global dietary guidelines encourage a transition to more #plantbased diets, adherence remains low. Alternative products that offer… (1/2) doi.org/10.1080/1040...
Navigating the shift toward sustainable diets: the use of protein blends in dairy alternatives
Food choice significantly impacts human health, economic development, environmental sustainability, and societal progress. Influencing food choice is key to collectively shaping these outcomes in s...
doi.org
November 23, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Modern #diets harm human & planetary #health, as the demand for #protein led to an over-reliance on #animal products. While global dietary guidelines encourage a transition to more #plantbased diets, adherence remains low. Alternative products that offer… (1/2) doi.org/10.1080/1040...
In a study with 200k participants and a follow-up of 13 years, each 10-point increase in the overall #plantbased diet index was linked to a 16% decrease in the risk of #rosacea. Adhering to healthful plant-based #diets should be recommended to prevent rosacea: doi.org/10.1111/jdv.... #health
doi.org
November 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
In a study with 200k participants and a follow-up of 13 years, each 10-point increase in the overall #plantbased diet index was linked to a 16% decrease in the risk of #rosacea. Adhering to healthful plant-based #diets should be recommended to prevent rosacea: doi.org/10.1111/jdv.... #health
Organic #labels inform #consumers only about production methods, but many incorrectly infer that #organic foods contain fewer #calories or are healthier than regular foods, even if they are identical in calories. This is known as the organic #health halo effect: doi.org/10.1093/erae... #labeling
The organic health halo: Influence of mood, restrained eating and healthiness perceptions
Abstract. Although organic labels inform consumers about food production, many incorrectly infer that organic foods contain fewer calories than regular foo
doi.org
November 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Organic #labels inform #consumers only about production methods, but many incorrectly infer that #organic foods contain fewer #calories or are healthier than regular foods, even if they are identical in calories. This is known as the organic #health halo effect: doi.org/10.1093/erae... #labeling
Adopting a low-fat #vegan diet is linked to a significant reduction in GHG #emissions and cumulative energy demand, important drivers of #climatechange. The decrease of GHG emissions is mainly attributable to reduced #meat consumption, followed by reduced #dairy consumption: doi.org/10.1001/jama...
Vegan Diet, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Cumulative Energy Demand
This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial examined the environmental effect of adopting a low-fat vegan diet on greenhouse gas emissions and cumulative energy demand.
doi.org
November 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Adopting a low-fat #vegan diet is linked to a significant reduction in GHG #emissions and cumulative energy demand, important drivers of #climatechange. The decrease of GHG emissions is mainly attributable to reduced #meat consumption, followed by reduced #dairy consumption: doi.org/10.1001/jama...
Insect #farming is promoted as a #sustainable food solution, yet the evidence challenges #environment benefits claimed by industry. Only ~10% of insect-based products replace #meat; most replace plant-based items. While #insects can be more sustainable than livestock… (1/2) doi.org/10.1111/brv....
doi.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Insect #farming is promoted as a #sustainable food solution, yet the evidence challenges #environment benefits claimed by industry. Only ~10% of insect-based products replace #meat; most replace plant-based items. While #insects can be more sustainable than livestock… (1/2) doi.org/10.1111/brv....
Terms like "vegan #sausage" & "vegan #burger" provide clarity for consumers and there's little confusion about using a "meat" term for vegan products. Most #consumers do not want a ban on #meat terms for vegan products… (1/2) radar-avrotros-nl.translate.goog/artikel/vega... #plantbased
‘Vegaworst’ en ‘veganburger’ geven consument juist duidelijkheid
Een vegaworst is een vegetarische worst, dus zonder vlees. Dit weet 96 procent van ruim 20.000 ondervraagde Radar Panel-leden juist te benoemen. Het doet vermoeden dat...
radar-avrotros-nl.translate.goog
November 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Terms like "vegan #sausage" & "vegan #burger" provide clarity for consumers and there's little confusion about using a "meat" term for vegan products. Most #consumers do not want a ban on #meat terms for vegan products… (1/2) radar-avrotros-nl.translate.goog/artikel/vega... #plantbased
UK: There would have been 23,000 fewer #deaths in England during early #COVID had the Government acted faster; the response was ‘too little too late’. Governments failed to appreciate the scale of the threat & the urgency of response it demanded: thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/hea... #COVID19 #health
Government response to COVID-19 was ‘too little too late’, inquiry concludes
Report says 23,000 deaths could have been avoided with earlier lockdown
thedoctor.bma.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 12:05 PM
UK: There would have been 23,000 fewer #deaths in England during early #COVID had the Government acted faster; the response was ‘too little too late’. Governments failed to appreciate the scale of the threat & the urgency of response it demanded: thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/hea... #COVID19 #health
#CulturedMeat is produced thru the cultivation of animal cells in controlled environments, which reduces the negative impact of animal #farming on the #environment and… (1/2) doi.org/10.1111/1541...
Cultured Meat Reformulation: Health Potential and Sustainable Food Challenges—Narrative Review
Cellular meat is the result of an innovative technology that facilitates the production of meat through the cultivation of animal cells in controlled laboratory environments. This process reduces the...
doi.org
November 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
#CulturedMeat is produced thru the cultivation of animal cells in controlled environments, which reduces the negative impact of animal #farming on the #environment and… (1/2) doi.org/10.1111/1541...
Transitioning to healthy #diets with low environmental impact is key to achieve #sustainable food systems & reducing health issues. Governments can play a significant role e.g. via issuing dietary guidelines. In an analysis of school meals in Spain over 15 years… (1/4) doi.org/10.1016/j.sc...
Redirecting
doi.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Transitioning to healthy #diets with low environmental impact is key to achieve #sustainable food systems & reducing health issues. Governments can play a significant role e.g. via issuing dietary guidelines. In an analysis of school meals in Spain over 15 years… (1/4) doi.org/10.1016/j.sc...
Over 300 #agriculture lobbyists participated at this year's UN climate talks. This is larger than the delegation of the world's 10th largest economy, Canada, which brought 220 delegates to COP30… (1/2) www.theguardian.com/environment/... #lobbying
More than 300 big agriculture lobbyists have taken part in Cop30, investigation finds
Lobbyists representing industry responsible for a quarter to a third of global emissions participated in key talks at the UN climate summit
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Over 300 #agriculture lobbyists participated at this year's UN climate talks. This is larger than the delegation of the world's 10th largest economy, Canada, which brought 220 delegates to COP30… (1/2) www.theguardian.com/environment/... #lobbying
A strain of #birdflu virus that has never before been reported in people has infected the first human (who may have been exposed thru backyard #poultry). The virus spreads thru #animals' saliva, mucus & feces, or… (1/2) edition.cnn.com/2025/11/14/h... #health #avianinfluenza
Strain of bird flu virus never before reported in people is behind first human case in US in nine months | CNN
A Washington resident has been hospitalized with bird flu, according to the Washington State Health Department, and they’re infected with a strain of the virus that hasn’t been seen in humans before.
edition.cnn.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:42 PM
A strain of #birdflu virus that has never before been reported in people has infected the first human (who may have been exposed thru backyard #poultry). The virus spreads thru #animals' saliva, mucus & feces, or… (1/2) edition.cnn.com/2025/11/14/h... #health #avianinfluenza
#BirdFlu: In a single farm in Germany, 120,000 #chickens had to be killed due to an outbreak of avian #influenza. Since the beginning of the year, the number in one state already exceeded one million… (1/2) www-ndr-de.translate.google/nachrichten/... #chicken #avianinfluenza #health
www-ndr-de.translate.google
November 16, 2025 at 12:30 PM
#BirdFlu: In a single farm in Germany, 120,000 #chickens had to be killed due to an outbreak of avian #influenza. Since the beginning of the year, the number in one state already exceeded one million… (1/2) www-ndr-de.translate.google/nachrichten/... #chicken #avianinfluenza #health