KFC is test-marketing plant-based nuggets and wings at one of its U.S. outlets in Altanta. (Global.kfc.com)

KFC to test plant-based nuggets, wings

Reuters –– Yum Brands said on Monday it will be testing plant-based nuggets and boneless wings at an Atlanta KFC restaurant, the latest fast-food chain trying new options to attract vegan diners. The quick-service fried chicken restaurant will nationally roll out the vegan menu items, produced by U.S. processor Beyond Meat, based on the customer […] Read more

Two white chickens isolated on white background

Scientists edit chickens resistant to avian flu

Science Notes: New research suggests it could be possible to halt the bird flu virus in chickens

Scientists have used gene-editing techniques to stop the bird flu virus from spreading in chicken cells grown in the laboratory. The findings raise the possibility of producing gene-edited chickens that are resistant to the disease. Researchers prevented the virus from taking hold by deleting a section of chicken DNA inside lab-grown cells. The next step […] Read more

(Video screengrabs from Exceldor.ca and Grannys.ca via YouTube)

Poultry co-ops Exceldor, Granny’s to merge

Quebec poultry co-operative Exceldor is expanding its westward reach through a merger deal with Manitoba-based Granny’s Poultry Co-operative. The two co-ops announced the combination Wednesday, noting it’s already been approved by Granny’s producer members in a “unanimous” vote taken in May, and by the federal Competition Bureau in a decision last month. “The main objective […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

KFC testing vegan ‘chicken’ burger in U.K.

Reuters — Yum Brands’ KFC is looking to tap into the popularity of plant-based protein foods by rolling out a vegan version of its classic chicken burger at some outlets in the U.K. The new burger, called “the Imposter Burger,” will have a fillet made from a meat substitute product, Quorn, instead of its classic […] Read more

Chicks atop images from a genetic map of a chicken. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Gene-edited chickens planned in bid to halt next pandemic

London | Reuters — British scientists are developing gene-edited chickens designed to be totally resistant to flu in a new approach to trying to stop the next deadly human pandemic. The first of the transgenic chicks will be hatched later this year at the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, said Wendy […] Read more

When eggs at the Trillium Hatchery are ready to hatch, they are moved to a system where the new chicks drop through to a cleaner area than has been usual in a hatchery, reducing need for antibiotics.

Quality chicks, reducing antibiotics drive new hatchery

Trillium Hatchery has a capacity of 20 million chicks per year, with room to expand

Having dropped from their eggshells directly onto a clean floor with immediate access to feed and water, the first chicks from the brand new Trillium Hatchery made their way onto Ontario broiler farms during the first week of November. A Nov. 13 official ribbon-cutting at the 70,000 sq. foot Stratford facility marked the second opening […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Maple Leaf to consolidate Ontario poultry processing

A new $660 million plant at London, Ont. will house Maple Leaf Foods’ Ontario fresh poultry processing operations by mid-2021 as the food processing firm prepares to shut three older facilities. Toronto-based Maple Leaf announced Monday it will build a 640,000-square foot plant at London, billed as “one of the most technologically advanced poultry-processing plants […] Read more

(JBSs.infoinvest.com.br)

JBS posts narrower-than-expected quarterly loss

Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil-based food company JBS SA on Tuesday posted a narrower than expected quarterly loss on the back of a strong performance by its Seara processed foods and Brazil beef divisions, and resilience in certain of its U.S. operations. Seara booked net sales of 4.9 billion reais (C$1.72 billion) last quarter, […] Read more