By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

The Vegetarian Resource Group received an email inquiry in May 2020 from a PhD student in Food, Agriculture & Resource Economics. He asked: “…In preparing for a PhD next year, I’m working on research around the economic impacts of plant-based diets, e.g., consumption, production, externalities, trends, etc. Would you have any suggestions for papers or people in this area? Insight greatly appreciated!”

The VRG responds:

There has been a significant increase in the popularity of plant-based diets during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Many consumers are trending away from meat, partly due to a perceived shortage of animal-based foods.

General Information on Plant-Based Economics

Here are recent articles on this phenomenon from Bloomberg and Vox.

Also for background, the World Economic Forum (WEF) published a 2018 article that contains several links to important studies on plant-based economics.

The WEF also explores the category it calls Agriculture, Food, and Beverage Industries with extensive listings of resources and articles.

Vegan Business Resource

For a business-focused look, Vegconomist is a good place to start.

Historical Reference on Plant-Based Economics

The academic journal titled Ecological Economics is a good source. You will find many research articles dealing with the types of issues in plant-based economics that you’re analyzing.

Here is a scholarly paper by Carlsson-Kanyama, et al., titled “Food and life cycle energy inputs: consequences of diet and ways to increase efficiency” that provides historical perspective.

Recent Economics Research on Plant-Based Diets

This 2016 article written by M. Springmann, et al., titled “Analysis and valuation of the health and climate change cobenefits of dietary change” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, considers economic aspects, as well health and environmental impacts, of plant-based diets.

Here are some other scholarly articles, all by the same research team:

Lusk & Norwood (2009) Some economic benefits and costs of vegetarianism published in Agricultural and Resource Economics Review.

In 2012, Lusk & Norwood published Speciesism, altruism and the economics of animal welfare in the European Review of Agricultural Economics.

Along with other researchers, Lusk & Norwood published a 2019 study in the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics titled An experiment on the vote-buy gap with application to cage-free eggs.

This information may also be of interest.
https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/faq.htm#poll
https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/market.htm

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal features a column called “Scientific Update.” Here you will find reviews of recent scientific papers related to vegetarianism written by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD. Topics covered in the latest column include Vegetarians May Have Lower Health Costs and New Study Does Not Find Increased Stroke Risk in Vegetarians. See: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue3/2020_issue3_scientific_update.php

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom. In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K  In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

The latest issue of Vegetarian Journal features a recipe piece called “Bowled Over” written by James Craig Thieman. Enjoy Tikka Masala Bowls; Southern Anytime Bowls; Garden Cabbage & Barley Bowls; Orange & Sweet Tater Bowls; Wasabi Rice Bowls with Peas; and Deconstructed Samosa Bowls. You can read the entire piece here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue3/2020_issue3_bowled_over.php

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom. In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K  In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal contains book reviews and the latest issue takes a look at 3-Ingredient Vegan by Nava Atlas and Plant-Based Sports Nutrition by D. Enette Larson-Meyer, PhD, RDN and Matt Ruscigno, MPH, RDN. Find the reviews here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue3/2020_issue3_book_reviews.php

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom. In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K  In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal features a column called “Scientific Update.” Here you will find reviews of recent scientific papers related to vegetarianism written by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD. Topics covered in the latest column include Urinary Tract Infections in Vegetarians; Vegetarian Pregnancy; and Certain Food Choices Promote Health and the Environment. See: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue3/2020_issue3_scientific_update.php

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom. In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K  In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Vegan Vanilla Cake from 21 stores across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and one store in Tallahassee, Florida, due to an undeclared soy (soy milk) allergen. The affected product was sold as whole, 6-inch cakes in both the cake case and self-serve areas of the Bakery Department. The product was packaged in plastic dome containers with Whole Foods Market scale labels, a PLU code of 41070 and product sell-by date through August 24, 2020. All affected product has been removed from store shelves.

For more information, see:
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-soy-milk-vegan-vanilla-cake-issued-whole-foods-market-stores-seven?utm_campaign=Allergy%20Alert%20for%20Undeclared%20Soy%20%28Soy%20Milk%29%20in%20Vegan%20Vanilla%20Cake&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

The contents of this posting, our website, and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

The latest issue of Vegetarian Journal features an article by The Vegetarian Resource Group’s Research Director Jeanne Yacoubou, MS titled Sweet Stuff: Not all Cane Sugar is Processed Through Bone Char. In this article you will learn which Domino plant locations in the USA still use bone char to whiten sugar and which don’t. See: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue3/2020_issue3_sweet_stuff.php

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom. In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K  In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

When someone becomes vegan they are usually advised to eat a varied diet. But what does that actually mean? For example, if you’re told to eat 6-8 servings of whole grains per day, how much of which whole grain foods should you be eating?

This Vegan Food Guide from Simply Vegan published by The Vegetarian Resource Group is a useful tool: https://www.vrg.org/nutrition/foodguide.php

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal contains a column called Nutrition Hotline written by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD. Her recent column discusses the issue of what to do if pregnant and anemic. Dr. Mangels states that while your dietitian is correct to encourage you to increase your iron intake, it’s not necessary to start eating meat. Read the entire column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue3/2020_issue3_nutrition_hotline.php

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom. In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K  In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

By Lucia Rivera, VRG Intern

“Family, Tradition, Cultura. All gone vegan while preserving and celebrating Mexican regional cuisine,” is the opening line of Dora Stone’s video on the best vegan Mexican recipes. Founder of the blog Dora’s Table, Dora Stone is a Mexican food photographer and recipe developer that works to spread vegan eating within the Hispanic community.

One day, I stumbled upon Dora’s Table and was thrilled. As the only person in my Mexican family to be exploring veganism, I was eager to find something like this. I love experimenting with new vegan recipes, whether for dessert or dinner, but I had never tried out a veganized Mexican recipe.

     After I spent hours pursuing the website and watching enthralling videos of chiles being cooked and tamales being steamed. I soon knew that I needed to try out a recipe from Dora’s blog, and chose the jackfruit vegan pozole rojo.

     Throughout my early childhood, my paternal grandmother’s pozole had been just one of the many traditional mexican dishes that reminded me of my family and my heritage. But since I became vegetarian at the age of seven – now nine years ago – I hadn’t enjoyed a bowl of pozole. So as I excitedly planned to take on this veganized pozole recipe, I went in search of the necessary ingredients, which were not those I normally used on a day to day basis. White hominy, chiles de árbol, and chiles anchos might not have been in my pantry, but I was familiar with their presence in supermarkets in the Southwestern border community I am part of.

     I easily recruited my father to take me to a nearby market and connected with him as we learned the shapes and names of the numerous chiles and spices that were arrayed in bins next to pan dulce. After I collected all my ingredients, including the canned jackfruit that would replace the usual meat of pozole, I arranged my workspace on my kitchen counter and began.

     Several hours later I finished the simmering, sautéing, grinding, chopping, and mixing required in the recipe and presented the soup to my parents. While it was not perfect, and the spices may have been a little bit off, I smiled wide when my dad proclaimed his satisfaction. Later that week my abuela let me know it was a bit spicy for her taste, which was unexpected but happily taken critique.

     I never expected that a blog of vegan cooking would help me connect to my Mexican heritage, but that is exactly what Dora’s Table helped me do. Generations of women before me cooked with the same chiles and served their families dinner proudly, and with veganized Mexican recipes, I can now do the same.

To read recipes from Dora’s Table, follow this link to her blog: https://dorastable.com/

For more vegan Mexican recipes written in English from The Vegetarian Resource Group see: https://www.vrg.org/journal/CookingAndRecipes.htm#cr-ethnic-mexican

For vegan Mexican and other South American recipes in Spanish from The Vegetarian Resource Group see: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/information_in_Spanish.htm#Recetas