Lukas Southard

In this week’s roundup: A new report finds consumer perceptions of MSG are shifting, Nestle and Cargill invest $15 million into regenerative ag projects, Mila partners with Simu Liu, Faiir Initiative publishes warning for livestock producers and Last Crumb goes gluten-free.

Marketing supplier Catalina announced it was restructuring its debt under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code and in the process selling its Japan-based unit to “strengthen its balance sheet.”

A recent study of 100 individuals published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that coffee consumption throughout the day increases physical activity while also negatively impacting a person’s sleep at night; yet, the impact of coffee on the heart are mixed.

The FDA proposed a new rule Friday allowing food makers to use salt substitutes in place of salt in an effort to reduce sodium intake from various processed and prepared foods. The move allows brands greater flexibility in ingredient choice used for flavor enhancement and preservation.

Better-for-you, Portland-based convenience store concept Green Zebra Grocery is shutting down all three locations at the end of the month citing the pandemic and inflation making the cost of business too steep to continue.

EnWave Corporation has sold its Moon Cheese snack brand to Creations Foods along with a royalty-bearing commercial license agreement to produce cheese snacks in the U.S. as the food drying technology company strategically focuses from retail CPG to licensing partnerships.

Swedish oat beverage maker Oatly announced that revenue increased 4.9% year-over-year to reach $195.1 million in Q4, while also informing investors that it had secured $425 million in financing commitments that will allow the business to grow as it looks to reach “self-sufficiency.”

Canadian pea and canola plant protein maker Merit Functional Foods has been placed in receivership with creditors filing court order Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the FDA announced its progress on restructuring the Human Foods Program consolidating food safety enforcement under one leadership role and streamlining operations internally and in the field.

Beyond Meat executives expressed renewed confidence that the company’s “decisive actions” to prioritize positive cash flow above growth is beginning to work even as the company announced net revenues of $79.9 million, a decrease of -20.6% from Q4 2021.