If you’ve been craving a juicy McRib but don’t want to eat meat, fast-food chain Plant Power has just the thing for you with “The Ribby,” a jackfruit-based barbecue-slathered version of McDonald’s classic sandwich.
Fire up the grill because Beyond Sausages are now even better thanks to a heart-healthy revamp that includes avocado oil.
Plus, Oatly’s oat milk has made its way into baby food in collaboration with Little Spoon.
Read on for more.
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Food news
Oat milk has been having a moment for quite a while and this week, it’s the star of Miyoko’s Creamery’s newest butter flavors: Garlic Parm and Cinnamon Brown Sugar.
“With these fresh additions, we want to capture the simple joy and nostalgia of that first bite consumers experience when they crunch into warm toast topped with savory butter,” Stuart Kronauge, Chief Executive Officer of Miyoko’s Creamery, said in a statement.
Miyoko’s Creamery
“This represents our dedication to crafting rich tasting and satisfying products while remaining true to our values of utilizing recognizable ingredients,” Kronauge said.
These new vegan butters come in 6-ounce tubs (priced at $4.99) and are available at Whole Foods with a forthcoming launch at Kroger.
Little Spoon
Oat milk is also popping up in other places with Oatly’s collaboration with Little Spoon, the leading direct-to-consumer kids’ food brand. Together, they have created the limited-edition Oatly x Little Spoon Overnight Oats.
Launching on June 25, this collaboration introduces two unique flavors: Apple Cinnamon Swirl and Peach Berry Bliss. These overnight oats are crafted with Oatly oat milk and no added sugars, making them a nutritious and satisfying snack for children.
This collaboration is part of Little Spoon’s “Start on the Sunny Side” campaign, which began earlier this month. The campaign also features three new breakfast offerings, an original breakfast jingle by TikTok star Fulton Fee and his daughter, and fruit and veggie-inspired pajamas in collaboration with children’s clothing brand Rosewood the label.
For more baby food news, plant-based company Yumi recently expanded its best-selling products at Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States. “We’re thrilled to partner with Walmart to bring Yumi to even more families,” Angela Sutherland, Yumi co-founder, said in a statement.
“Our commitment to crafting delicious and nutritious snacks has resonated with parents since day one, and we’re excited to make our organic bars and puffs easily accessible to Walmart families,” Sutherland said.
Launched in 2022, Yumi’s bars and puffs are made with real, organic ingredients, and each bar features at least eight superfood vegetables. As a member of the Clean Label Project, Yumi’s products are tested for more than 400 potential contaminants, including heavy metals.
Beyond Meat
For those who love outdoor grilling, Beyond Meat has some great news. Similar to its revamp of the Beyond Burger, the company has expanded its Beyond IV product line with the debut of the new, fourth-generation Beyond Sausage. Available at grocery stores nationwide, including Kroger and Whole Foods Market, this latest iteration offers enhanced flavor and a meatier texture.
The new Beyond Sausage is made with avocado oil, which contributes to its heart-healthy profile, reducing the saturated fat content to just 2 grams per link while providing 17 grams of protein per serving.
“The new Beyond Sausage is incredibly juicy, meaty, and delicious, and I love that it’s made with heart-healthy avocado oil,” Joy Bauer, registered dietitian and Beyond Meat nutrition advisor, said in a statement.
The reformulated sausage also features a simplified ingredient list and less sodium compared to its predecessor.
The new Beyond Sausage Brat Original and Hot Italian-Style flavors are rolling out now, with the Mild Italian-Style flavor expected to launch later this summer.
To celebrate the launch, Beyond Meat is introducing its first-ever cookbook, Serve Love, which includes a collection of heart-healthy recipes certified by the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check program.
Tech news
Is the secret to melty vegan cheese found inside seeds? Startup NewMoo thinks so and recently got $7 million to further develop its animal-free casein, which it sources from seeds.
Using plant molecular farming, NewMoo produces casein proteins that replicate the nutrition, composition, and function of dairy casein. This innovation allows for the creation of animal-free cheese that mimics the melting and stretching behavior of traditional dairy cheese, offering a genuine cheese experience without the cow.
“Our animal-free liquid casein mimics all the functional traits of real milk protein for crafting cheese the traditional way,” Daphna Miller, NewMoo co-founder and CEO, said in a statement.
The Every Company
Just like NewMoo aims to remove cows from dairy production, The Every Company’s tech is working to replace chicken eggs—during a time when outbreaks of avian flu have become more common and severe.
This week, Grupo Empresarial Palacios Alimentación, known as the world’s largest producer of Spanish omelets, announced a commercial agreement with The Every Company.
Palacios will use The Every Egg, the world’s first liquid egg product made using precision fermentation, in its flagship Spanish omelets.
Unveiled last December, the Every Egg serves as a direct replacement for mixed eggs in any application, maintaining the taste and texture of high-quality hen eggs.
Chef David Humm from New York City’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant Eleven Madison Park described the ingredient as “all but indistinguishable from hen eggs.”
This partnership marks a significant step in bringing innovative, animal-free products to traditional recipes that rely heavily on animal products.
Restaurant news
At a time when so many eateries are closing, it is always good news to learn about a new plant-based restaurant opening. Over in Bethesda, MD, mother-daughter-duo Melissa Peppe and Molly Gibson opened Rooted3 this year as a way to share Gibson’s healthy food journey with their community.
Tony Powell
For years, Gibson struggled with a number of illnesses that rendered her bedridden throughout her senior year of high school. After seeing many doctors and specialists, Gibson made a shift to a plant-based diet, and her symptoms began to subside.
Fast-forward 14 years later, and Gibson is sharing her journey with others through Rooted3’s menu of healthy smoothies, bowls, waffles, and treats.
“It has been a dream of mine to open my own plant-based restaurant,” Gibson said in a statement. “As someone who has multiple food allergies, I wanted to open a place where people like myself can come and enjoy fresh and delicious food without having to worry about the leading nine allergens or inflammatory ingredients that are so often included in the food we eat.” The restaurant also features a marketplace with carefully selected vegan products and books.
Rooted3
If you’re looking for more smoothies this National Smoothie Day (today!), you can head over to Jamba for a special deal. From 3pm to 6pm local time, Jamba will offer a small 16-ounce Mango-a-Go-Go or Strawberry Whirl Smoothie for just $1. This deal is available for in-store purchases for today only.
Additionally, Jamba recently expanded its Watermelon Smoothie lineup with two new limited-edition flavors: Watermelon Lemonade Smoothie and the “swicy” Watermelon Tajin Smoothie.
These new smoothies join the returning Watermelon Breeze Smoothie and are available at Jamba stores nationwide through September 9 or while supplies last.
Plant Power Fast Food
Want to sink your teeth into something hearty like a vegan McRib? Plant Power Fast Food will soon make that dream a reality with its take on the McDonald’s cult favorite item.
Called “The Ribby,” this sandwich will feature a patty made from shredded jackfruit, smothered in sweet, tangy barbecue sauce, and topped with thinly sliced onions and pickles—all served on a warm, toasted bun.
“The barbecue rib sandwich holds a legendary place in fast food history and we wanted to honor that legacy with our plant-based take,” Zach Vouga, President/COO and Co-Founder of Plant Power, said in a statement.
“With our sweet and smoky housemade barbecue and the best pickles in the world, Grillo’s, we believe The Ribby will offer an unforgettable flavor experience,” Vouga said.
On the evening of June 28, Plant Power will host a special pop-up at its Hollywood location in partnership with Vegan Playground where attendees will get an exclusive first taste of The Ribby before the meaty sandwich launches at all 10 Plant Power locations on July 2nd for a limited time.
Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
