As more and more people are moving toward a plant-based diet and migrating away from animal products, organic cannot be forgotten in this equation.

Unfortunately, I see far too many people who think that as long as it is plant-based, that is sufficient. It’s not.

Case in point: almonds.

In the early 2000s, there were a few outbreaks of salmonella traced to raw almonds from California, a state where nearly 100% of America’s almonds are grown. As a result, the USDA implemented a rule that required all almonds grown in California to be pasteurized. This holds true for both organic and non-organic varieties. Read more »

How can a super-toxic weedkiller — which is known to the State of California to cause cancer — be allowed to be sprayed on our nation’s food supply?

It is an absolute outrage that our government is permitting this to happen, especially when the latest President’s Cancer Panel report said that 41% of Americans will get cancer and 21% of Americans will die from cancer.

Now is the time to tell our government ‘No’ to glyphosate, as it is considering to reapprove this toxic chemical for another 15 years.

We have until midnight on April 30th to let the EPA know that we want this chemical banned forever, and it is essential that everyone’s voice be heard. Read more »

(Photo courtesy of Kiss the Ground)

As we celebrate Earth Day and examine how our activities are harming the planet, we rarely, if ever, analyze how our language might be impacting our ability to improve the world.

Case in point is the word “sustainable” – a term widely used, and misunderstood, in environmental circles. Read more »

If you’re someone who is incredibly careful about the kind of food that you are putting into your body, I have some important news for you.

That same care and concern must extend to the kind of water that you are drinking, particularly bottled water. Here’s why.

Orb Media, a non-profit journalism organization, enlisted the help of scientists to test the bottled water of 11 brands in nine different countries. What did they find? Read more »

While most of the attention at Natural Products Expo West was focused on companies’ products, it cannot be overlooked that a good number of brands invested a tremendous amount of time and energy into building their trade show booths.

As such, I like to recognize those companies that went the extra mile and presented something special, and I always give out awards for the Best Trade Show Booths at Expo West.

What I look for most are originality, interactive experiences and impact.

Here are Best Trade Show Booths at Expo West 2018.

GENERAL MILLS

General Mills had a phenomenal show and its Annie’s Honey Bunny Grahams and Elbow Pasta & Cheddar were named to my Top 5 Organic Food Products of Expo West 2018.

Yet, its trade show booth stood above the rest as well. Read more »

As I do after each Natural Products Expo West, I name my top picks of the show.

Having discovered so many outstanding products, it was incredibly difficult to narrow the list down to five. The quality just keeps getting better and better each year.

Below are my Top 5 Organic Food Products from Expo West 2018 and if you’d like to read my key trends, full analysis and takeaways from the show, be sure to sign up for Organic Insider.

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MACA CHOCOLATE DARK ROAST FROM TEECCINO

Teeccino founder Caroline MacDougall has been formulating organic teas for decades, and her expertise in making delicious drinks was on full display in her new Maca Chocolate Dark Roast at Expo West.

Aside from the beautiful flavor, this herbal blend contains plenty of phytonutrients from the carob, cocoa and chiles.

Yet, what makes this drink so unique is that the company is using ramón seeds (above), a food that I had never known about before. Read more »

Whenever I go to a market in NYC these days and check out the refrigerated section, I am constantly amazed by the inordinate amount of shelf space that REBBL occupies.

But it’s for very good reason.

Under the brilliant leadership of CEO Sheryl O’Loughlin, REBBL has become the hottest brand in the beverage world, and people have become obsessed with the company’s adaptogenic coconut milk drinks.

While the company is well on its way to becoming a household name, what is barely known is just how mission-driven REBBL is and that 2.5% of all sales go to Not for Sale, an organization which aims to end modern slavery and exploitation around the world.

Yet, what makes REBBL truly stand apart is that the business was created and imagined with the primary goal of having a positive social impact. Read more »