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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.

Better Chicken, Worse Rivers?

The fur trade is collapsing. <a data-mce-href="https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/fur-production-plummeted-lowest-level/" href="https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/fur-production-plummeted-lowest-level/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global fur production has crashed by 85% in the last decade</a>, hitting its lowest level since 2010. In 2024 alone, it dropped by 40%, with China, the biggest fur producer, cutting its output by more than half between 2022 and 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just 21 million minks, foxes, and raccoon dogs were exploited for fur in 2023, down from 34.5 million the year before. It’s still millions too many, but the trend is clear - fur is dying.&nbsp;&nbsp; Fashion Walks AwayCountries are shutting down fur farms, and brands are ditching it. Norway, once the top fox fur producer, banned fur farming. The Netherlands, a major mink producer, did the same. More than 1,600 fashion brands have committed to going fur-free, and London Fashion Week banned fur in 2023, later extending the ban to exotic skins.&nbsp;&nbsp;The reason? Public disgust, relentless campaigning, and the industry’s own failings.&nbsp;&nbsp; Covid, Cruelty, and Collapse&nbsp;Fur farms became a global biohazard during the Covid pandemic. Outbreaks ripped through mink farms in Europe and North America, forcing governments to reconsider the risks. Meanwhile, investigations exposed the grim reality: animals pacing in tiny, wire cages, suffering from disease, injuries, and stress-induced psychosis. Fur farms aren’t just outdated, they’re obscene.&nbsp;&nbsp; The UK’s HypocrisyThe UK banned fur farming in 2003, yet still allows fur imports, keeping the trade alive elsewhere. Every fur coat, trim, or accessory sold here funds the same confinement, gassing, and electrocution that was deemed too cruel to continue in Britain.&nbsp;&nbsp;The loophole needs closing. A petition to ban fur imports into the UK is calling on the government to finally align its laws with public ethics. If the UK rejects fur farming, it should reject fur sales too.&nbsp;&nbsp;🔗 Sign the petition here: <a data-mce-href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702043" href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK Government Petition – Ban Fur Imports</a> Not Over YetFur is circling the drain, but some brands and celebrities refuse to let go. Louis Vuitton’s creative director, Pharrell Williams, continues to push fur, proving that even in 2025, some still prioritise profit over ethics.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Millions still suffer and die each year for an unnecessary product,” says Brigit Oele of Fur Free Alliance. “Our work will continue until we see the end of this vile industry.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The message is clear: fur has no future. The UK needs to decide which side of history it wants to be on.

Fur Industry in Freefall

Big win for plant-based dogs: Omni, a vegan dog food company, just bagged a £75k investment on Dragons’ Den.&nbsp;&nbsp; The DealOmni’s founders, Dr Guy Sandelowsky and Shiv Sivakumar, pitched their vision to the Dragons, and it paid off. They landed their “dream” investors: Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden, who took a 2.5% stake in the company.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meaden, who follows a plant-based diet, called Omni one of the “most successful businesses to come into the Den.” Bartlett, known for his marketing expertise, was all in: “I have to try and invest in this business. I have to.”Both founders are self-proclaimed Dragons’ Den superfans and were “thrilled” to be on the show. “It was surreal to be pitching to the five Dragons, sharing how we’re shaking up the pet food industry,” said Sivakumar. Why Omni?&nbsp;If you’ve ever cracked open a can of standard dog food, you already know it’s a horror show. The pet food industry doesn’t just use factory-farmed animals, it sweeps up the waste of the meat industry, grinds it into mush, and convinces people it’s “essential nutrition.”Meanwhile, dogs are struggling. Dr Sandelowsky didn’t mince words:“Skin issues, gut problems, and obesity are rampant in dogs,” said Dr Sandelowsky. “Yet, most pet food options are bland, unhealthy, and packed with CO2-polluting ingredients. Omni changes that. Our food is nutritionally complete, allergy-friendly, and most importantly, delicious.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Omni’s products use novel proteins from yeasts, algae, and pulses, ingredients that don’t trigger common allergies. And the science backs it: a 2022 study found that dogs fed plant-based diets had fewer health issues than those on meat-based food. Even the British Veterinary Association recently dropped its opposition to vegan diets for dogs.So, what’s stopping this from becoming the norm? The same thing that keeps the meat and dairy industries afloat: marketing and misinformation. People assume dogs need meat because they’ve been told that over and over again. But here’s the truth: what they need is proper nutrition, and that doesn’t require slaughterhouses.Plant-based pet food isn’t a niche fad - it’s the future. With Dragons’ Den backing, Omni is poised to make plant-based dog food the new normal. Originally reported by <a data-mce-href="https://plantbasednews.org/culture/tv-and-radio/vegan-dog-food-brand-dragons-den/" href="https://plantbasednews.org/culture/tv-and-radio/vegan-dog-food-brand-dragons-den/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBN</a>.

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ARTICLES

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?

Fur Industry in Freefall

Vegan Dog Food Brand Omni Secures Investment on Dragons’ Den