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A <a data-mce-href="https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/human-case-bird-flu-nevada/" href="https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/human-case-bird-flu-nevada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">farm worker in Nevada</a> has become the latest human to contract bird flu - this time, a new strain, D1.1, jumping from infected dairy cows. If that sentence sounds like something out of a pandemic horror script, that’s because it is. But this isn’t fiction. It’s the reality of an industry that treats animals as commodities, creating the perfect breeding ground for deadly viruses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bird Flu in Cows?&nbsp;For decades, bird flu was mostly a poultry problem. Now? It’s spilling into dairy herds. The <a data-mce-href="https://www.sciencealert.com/new-strain-of-bird-flu-in-nevada-reveals-a-concerning-mutation" href="https://www.sciencealert.com/new-strain-of-bird-flu-in-nevada-reveals-a-concerning-mutation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">D1.1 strain</a>, which has been circulating in wild birds and farmed poultry, has now been found in milk. The virus has also been detected in raw milk samples, leading to recalls. And not forgetting the <a data-mce-href="https://plantbasednews.org/animals/cats-sick-or-dead-from-bird-flu/" href="https://plantbasednews.org/animals/cats-sick-or-dead-from-bird-flu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cats that died</a> after drinking infected milk on farms across several states.&nbsp;&nbsp;The virus isn’t just jumping species; it’s mutating. The D1.1 strain has a genetic tweak that could make it better at spreading between mammals. If that doesn’t set off alarm bells, it should.&nbsp;&nbsp;Farm Worker Infected. What Next?The Nevada worker developed conjunctivitis, just an eye infection. Mild, right? That’s what they said about early COVID-19 cases, too. The problem isn’t just the individual cases - it’s what happens when a virus like this figures out how to move efficiently between humans.&nbsp;&nbsp;In January, the US saw its first H5N1 death, linked to this same strain. Yet authorities continue to push the line that “there’s no evidence of human-to-human transmission.” That’s exactly what they said before COVID-19 exploded. The playbook never changes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Workers at the FrontlineWho’s most at risk? Not the average supermarket shopper. It’s the farm workers - overworked, underpaid, and often undocumented. These are the people handling infected cows, chickens, and raw milk. They’re also the least likely to have healthcare, PPE, or the ability to take time off if they feel unwell.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many won’t even get tested. If symptoms are mild, if they don’t speak English fluently, or if they fear deportation, they’ll keep working. That means cases slip through the cracks, and the official numbers mean nothing. The real count of infected people? No one knows.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Government’s Response: A Masterclass in Doing NothingTracking this virus should be a priority. Instead, the US is taking a scattered, state-by-state approach. Some states test aggressively. Others barely bother. If you don’t look for cases, you don’t find them - that’s convenient for keeping industries running but disastrous for public health.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US tracks bird flu through wastewater testing, symptom-based screenings, and random flu tests. Sounds good, except not everyone who tests positive for influenza gets checked for H5N1. In Iowa, for example, unless a patient fits a narrow set of criteria, they don’t get tested at all. In California, doctors are supposed to consider bird flu in patients with respiratory symptoms, assuming those patients can afford a doctor visit in the first place.&nbsp;&nbsp;The result? A virus spreading largely untracked, with unknown numbers of human infections, while officials claim everything is under control.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pandemic Potential? Absolutely.Right now, bird flu isn’t spreading efficiently between humans. But viruses mutate. That’s what they do. The more chances they get, the higher the risk of a mutation that changes everything.&nbsp;&nbsp;If that happens, we’re not ready. The infrastructure for testing, containment, and protection isn’t there. And if you think the US government will act swiftly to protect public health, just look at how COVID-19 played out.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ve Seen This Before - And We’ll See It AgainWe act like these outbreaks are random, unfortunate events. They aren’t. This is what happens when you breed, confine, and exploit animals on an industrial scale.&nbsp;&nbsp;Factory farms are viral incubators. Cows, chickens, ducks, and pigs are packed together, genetically similar, and stressed - perfect conditions for disease to spread and evolve. H5N1, H5N9, COVID-19 - none of these are accidents. They’re the inevitable consequences of a system that prioritises profits over health, ethics, and common sense.&nbsp;&nbsp;The same industries responsible for these outbreaks are the ones most resistant to change. Their solution? Kill millions of infected animals and move on as if nothing happened. They don’t want you questioning why these outbreaks keep happening. They want you to accept culling as a necessary evil while continuing to buy their products.&nbsp;&nbsp;Voting for the Next PandemicEvery non-vegan purchase keeps this system alive. Every pint of milk, every egg, every piece of chicken or duck flesh is a vote for the conditions that make pandemics more likely.&nbsp;&nbsp;We know how to prevent future outbreaks. Stop using animals, and the cycle of zoonotic disease collapses. No factory farms, no high-density viral incubators, no endless mutations. This isn’t a radical idea. It’s a straightforward solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Bottom LineThe Nevada case is another warning. Another sign that our use of animals is a public health disaster waiting to happen.&nbsp;&nbsp;The government won’t save us. The industry won’t change on its own. But we don’t have to wait for the next pandemic to take action. We can reject this system now.&nbsp;&nbsp;Because if we don’t? The next pandemic won’t be a question of if - just when.

Bird Flu Confirmed In Nevada

<a data-mce-href="https://bryantresearch.co.uk/insight-items/unacceptable-farming-practices/" href="https://bryantresearch.co.uk/insight-items/unacceptable-farming-practices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A new study</a> from Bryant Research has confirmed what most of us already knew: the British public is overwhelmingly against standard farming practices. And yet, these same practices continue at an industrial scale. Why?&nbsp;&nbsp; Public Outrage vs. Industry RealityThe numbers are staggering:&nbsp;&nbsp;- 94% of Brits oppose keeping chickens in cages as small as an A4 sheet of paper.&nbsp;&nbsp;- 96% reject the idea of pigs being kept in crates so small they can’t even turn around.&nbsp;&nbsp;- 87% disagree with slicing off baby chicks’ beaks.&nbsp;&nbsp;- 85% are against killing male chicks simply because they can’t lay eggs.&nbsp;&nbsp;And yet, these are standard procedures across UK farms. The egg industry kills 99% of male chicks, and 90% of dairy calves have their horn buds burned off with a hot iron. These aren’t rare or rogue cases - this is the norm.&nbsp;So if almost everyone opposes these practices, why is nothing changing?&nbsp;&nbsp; Symptom Management Instead of Systemic ChangeThe study points out that much of what happens in farming isn’t about solving problems - it’s about controlling the damage caused by the system itself.&nbsp;&nbsp;- Pigs bite each other’s tails out of stress, so farmers amputate their tails instead of fixing the conditions that cause the stress.&nbsp;- Chickens peck at each other because they’re crammed into tiny spaces, so farmers slice off their beaks instead of giving them space.&nbsp;&nbsp;- Male chicks are killed because they can’t lay eggs, so some push for "in-ovo sexing" instead of questioning why we’re breeding chickens into existence just to kill them.All of this is like putting a plaster on a gaping wound. It doesn't fix the problem - it just hides it. Empty Promises and Political StallingThe UK government has a long history of acknowledging how bad these practices are - then doing nothing.Take farrowing crates, for example. These cages confine mother pigs so tightly that they can’t even turn around for weeks at a time. Back in 2018, <a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/220220" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/220220">Herbivore Club petitioned the government</a>&nbsp;to ban them, gathering thousands of signatures. The Conservative government responded by saying they aimed to “make farrowing crates unnecessary”.Over six years later, nothing has changed. 60% of UK sows are still locked in these cages.This is how the industry operates. The public rejects these practices, campaigners push for change, governments make vague promises - and then the cycle repeats, while animals remain trapped in the system. Welfare Labels Won’t Cut ItThe report suggests a mandatory animal welfare labelling system, so consumers can make "informed decisions." But does the public really need a new sticker on a packet of eggs to know that stuffing birds into cages is wrong? The overwhelming opposition in this study suggests otherwise.We've seen this before. Labels like "free-range" and "high welfare" give the illusion of choice, while the same industries continue to breed, confine, and kill animals on an industrial scale. If welfare labels worked, the meat, dairy, and egg industries wouldn’t be where they are today - routinely failing even the lowest global standards, as the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) recently <a data-mce-href="https://vegconomist.com/society/charity-campaigns/global-food-companies-low-ratings-animal-welfare-improvements/" href="https://vegconomist.com/society/charity-campaigns/global-food-companies-low-ratings-animal-welfare-improvements/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highlighted</a>. The Solution? A Plant-Based TransitionThe study makes it clear: the only way to avoid these practices is to stop supporting them. Instead of trying to tweak the system at the edges, Bryant Research points to a plant-based transition as the real solution. Initiatives like the Transfarmation Project help farmers switch from animal agriculture to plant production, proving that a future without this exploitation isn’t just possible - it’s already happening. The Public Already Knows. It’s Time to Act.The real takeaway from this study isn’t just that Brits oppose these practices. It’s that they already know how bad things are - but the system continues despite them.The question isn’t whether people are okay with animal farming as it exists today. They aren’t.The question is: when will we stop pretending it can ever be "acceptable"?

96% of Brits Oppose Common Animal Farming Practices

They did it again. A massive salmon prison break off the Norwegian coast. 27,000 “farmed” inmates fled from a Mowi facility in Troms, north-west Norway, leaving the seafood corporation scrambling to slap bounties on their heads.&nbsp;Mowi, the world’s largest salmon exploiter - sorry, “producer” - blames stormy weather for shredding a cage that housed 105,000 fish. Officials say a quarter of these captives vanished. Now Mowi’s dangling 500 kroner (about £36) per recaptured salmon in a frantic attempt to hush up the scandal. Predictable Disaster?Campaigners aren’t shocked. They’re calling this a major blow to wild salmon. Farmed salmon “escaping” into open waters means genetic dilution, more sea lice, and cutthroat competition for finite spawning grounds. Norway boasts a 1.2m-tonne export market for farmed salmon every year, and wild fish pay the ultimate price. Rivers are shutting down to salvage whatever’s left of genuine, non-modified salmon. Yes, you read that right: 42 rivers - and three fjords - are queued for closure this summer. Authorities Come KnockingThe Norwegian directorate of fisheries sprang into action, ordering Mowi to expand its recapture efforts beyond the usual 500-metre zone around the facility. Seeing 27,000 potential intruders swarm local ecosystems has a funny way of speeding up bureaucracy. Mowi’s top brass called it “serious and regrettable.” Must be tough handing out hush-money bounties instead of looking in the mirror. Politicians ShrugNorway’s environment minister, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, admits wild North Atlantic salmon face “existential threat” but still won’t ban these open-net fish factories. Instead, he’s hunting for an “acceptable level” of pollution - apparently for both the environment and his conscience. The TakeawayThis is more than a “serious and regrettable” slipup. It’s a destructive collision of corporate arrogance and political complacency, forcing wild salmon into an even tighter corner. Mowi offers cash as a quick fix. Meanwhile, wild salmon- already hammered by pollution, parasites, and meddling genetics - face another onslaught of unwelcome neighbors. If we keep letting fish-farming barons run the show, we’ll soon wonder what “wild salmon” even means. Originally reported by <a data-mce-href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/11/seafood-firm-bounty-escaped-salmon-norway" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/11/seafood-firm-bounty-escaped-salmon-norway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a>.&nbsp;

Mowi’s Salmon Jailbreak: 27,000 Fish on the Run, 500 Kroner Bounties

Yet another “must-have” beauty trend is here: so-called “glass skin.” Usually, it’s just a fancier way of saying “put snail mucus on your face.” Enter BYOMA. They’ve decided to skip the snail exploitation altogether!The brand’s Phyto-Mucin Glow Serum swaps snail secretions for a “bio-based” mucin pulled from Japanese roots and plants. No more snail enslavement and stress; just the same plumped-up, dewy finish people chase.&nbsp;A Plant-Powered Alternative&nbsp;BYOMA says their plant-based ingredients deliver the same barrier-boosting benefits as snail-derived slime. Claims of increased hydration, reduced water loss, and firmer skin are plastered all over their marketing. Customer reviews call it a “gamechanger.” And with good reason: the serum is loaded with plant-based peptides and hyaluronic acid, an ingredient worshipped in every corner of the skincare world. Boots stocks a 40ml bottle for £14.99, while US shoppers can grab it at Target, Ulta Beauty, and Sephora.&nbsp;&nbsp;All BYOMA’s products are vegan and cruelty-free, which puts them miles ahead of brands still stuck on snail exploitation. Because, yes, those brands want us to believe that scraping mucin off a snail, through any means, is “cruelty-free.” Spoiler alert: it’s not.The Slime FactorSnail mucin exists for a reason: to help snails when they’re stressed. They’re not pumping out slime for our vanity. The standard extraction process? Place them on a netted surface or lock them in a chamber, then mist them with sodium chloride - table salt, essentially - to force them to secrete the goo. Some companies love calling this “no-harm.” Where’s the regulated oversight? Nowhere to be found. It’s yet another deep, dark corporate secret. Unsurprisingly, these snail farms often double as suppliers for the culinary industry. Because why exploit these sentient beings once when you can do it twice?Producing enough mucin to fill shelves across the globe demands a constant supply of living creatures. And the quality? Depends on snail health and how they’re farmed. Not exactly a failproof formula.&nbsp;Not Just SnailsLet’s not pretend snails are the only nonhuman animals used as “ingredients.” Collagen derived from cows or fish remains a cash cow for the anti-aging crowd. There’s even the infamous “salmon sperm facial,” which extracts DNA from fish farming by-products. If that doesn’t scream “desperate for youth,” what does?There’s a world of plant-based alternatives that don’t rely on forcibly taking from animals. BYOMA’s Phyto-Mucin serum is just one example. It’s a move toward justice-driven skincare that doesn’t exploit.&nbsp;Bottom LineReject the snail-goo hype. BYOMA’s vegan serum offers another path, one that doesn’t center on animals, slime, or secrecy. Instead, it’s a straightforward, plant-powered punch against oppressive beauty standards.&nbsp; &nbsp; Originally reported by <a data-mce-href="https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/beauty/vegan-glass-skin-serum/" href="https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/beauty/vegan-glass-skin-serum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBN</a>.

BYOMA Takes the Slimy Out of “Glass Skin”

Beyond Meat has rolled out a new range of plant-based steak products, now available at Sprouts Farmers Market across the US. Instead of hacking apart an animal for muscle tissue, these pre-seasoned, high-protein bites offer bold flavours without the baggage. &nbsp; Two Flavours, No Slaughter &nbsp;The latest lineup includes Beyond Steak Chimichurri, described as "bold and bright," and Beyond Steak Korean BBQ-Style, which leans sweet and tangy. Both are based on Beyond Meat’s Plant-Based Seared Tips - so no, they don’t look like a slab of flesh, but they deliver the taste and texture people crave without the bloodshed. &nbsp; What’s Inside? &nbsp;These steak pieces are made from wheat gluten, fava bean protein, sunflower oil, and a blend of herbs and spices. A single 88g serving packs 20g of protein, contains no cholesterol, and keeps saturated fat down to just 1g. The sodium sits at 0.3g per serving - technically just above the "low salt" threshold, but miles below the sodium bombs lurking in actual meat products. &nbsp;Beyond Meat isn’t just making animal-free alternatives; it’s securing official recognition. Both products are certified by the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association as smarter choices. &nbsp; The Shift to “Clean Label” &nbsp;The latest Beyond Steak range is part of Beyond Meat’s move towards simpler, “clean label” products - aka, ingredients you’d recognise to appease the "anything I can't spell must be bad" crowd. This approach also extends to their burgers and sausages, which now feature avocado oil for lower saturated fat and a reduced salt content. &nbsp;In 2024, the company launched Beyond Sun Sausage, a plant-based breakfast option made with fava beans, lentils, and yellow peas - no tortured pig required. &nbsp; The Future of Alt Meat? &nbsp;Beyond Meat is also working on a new mycelium-based whole-cut steak. If you’re unfamiliar, mycelium (a fancy name for mushroom roots) creates a naturally meaty texture when grown through fermentation. Unlike animal flesh, it’s packed with protein, fibre, and minerals while staying low in fat and cholesterol. &nbsp;Bottom line? People don’t need to rip muscle off an animal’s bones to enjoy steak. Beyond Meat keeps proving it, one plant-based innovation at a time.

Beyond Steak

A line-up of British icons - Paul Whitehouse, Jo Brand, Joanna Lumley, Chris Packham, Liz Bonnin, George Monbiot, Johnny Flynn, Dominic West, Jim Murray, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - <a data-mce-href="https://riveractionuk.com/your-chicken-is-killing-our-rivers-british-icons-take-on-nandos-over-supply-chain/" href="https://riveractionuk.com/your-chicken-is-killing-our-rivers-british-icons-take-on-nandos-over-supply-chain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has called out Nando’s</a> for harming the River Wye through intensive chicken farming. Their demand? That the chain switch to something akin to the “Better Chicken Commitment” for river pollution.&nbsp;Here’s the lesser-known twist: many of these same celebrities have also championed the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) itself, believing it to reduce suffering while helping the planet.Unfortunately, the BCC tends to do the opposite when it comes to pollution. Why? Because so-called “better” conditions often mean chickens live longer and grow more slowly, consuming more crops, water, and other resources. The more feed needed, the more farmland is diverted to grow it, and the more waste and run-off end up in our rivers. Exactly the crisis we’re seeing on the Wye.This isn’t about vilifying well-intentioned voices. Rather, it’s about spotlighting the unintended consequences of welfare measures that expand an already massive industry. More space and extra days of life can sound positive. Yet, when millions of birds are involved, we’re effectively producing more pollution per chicken, more excrement, and more greenhouse gas emissions in the process.Improving animal welfare often leads to worse environmental issues because:1. Land Usage: Enhancing welfare by reducing animal density requires more land, displacing wildlife and expanding agricultural impact.2. Increased Resource Consumption: Animals like chickens and pigs, when allowed to grow slower or live longer for welfare reasons, consume more food. This necessitates additional agricultural land for feed, further encroaching on natural habitats.3. Pollution: With animals living longer and consuming more, the volume of waste increases, exacerbating pollution issues.4. Greater Numbers: To maintain production levels with animals living longer, more animals are bred, which increases the demand for housing and feed, and intensifies environmental degradation.Thus, better welfare under the paradigm of continued animal use leads to increased environmental costs without addressing the fundamental issue of exploitation.Nando’s is certainly on the hook for greenwashing if it’s claiming “sustainability” while sidestepping its role in river pollution. But a genuine solution goes beyond simple tweaking.&nbsp;If this coalition of famous names truly wants to protect rivers, and the living beings who depend on them, it might be worth re-examining whether “improved” chicken farming can ever be a meaningful fix. No condemnation here: only an invitation to look more deeply at why the current system is failing the Wye and to question if “better chicken” is actually better for our waterways, the animals, or the planet.&nbsp;Until we stop tinkering with “kinder” ways to industrially breed and kill sentient individuals and instead question why we’re doing this at all, the Wye will keep on dying, and so will every other river in its path.

Herbivore Club

ARTICLES

Bird Flu Confirmed In Nevada

96% of Brits Oppose Common Animal Farming Practices

Mowi’s Salmon Jailbreak: 27,000 Fish on the Run, 500 Kron...

BYOMA Takes the Slimy Out of “Glass Skin”

Beyond Steak

Better Chicken, Worse Rivers?