Food 4 Thought issue #4

Dear Reader,

Happy autumn! Welcome to the fourth Food 4 Thought newsletter! Keep reading to learn about proposed legislation in California that would ban certain food additives, an innovative Indonesian agtech startup, an Arizona-based foundation that’s building school gardens across the U.S., and sustainable wine! Thank You for your support!

-Isabel

1. A Bill banning harmful food chemicals passes through the California Legislature

Bill A.B. 418, known as the California Food Safety Act, passed through the California Legislature earlier this month. The proposed legislation would ban the sale of all food and drinks containing four harmful chemicals: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3. The bill awaits a signature from Gov. Gavin Newsom-D, Calif., and would officially take effect starting in 2027.

The four chemicals are banned in the European Union (EU) and several other countries due to their association with several health issues, including an increased risk of cancer, nervous system damage, hyperactivity, and endocrine disruption. In 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned red dye No. 3. in cosmetics after studies found that it causes cancer in lab animals in high doses.

The California Food Safety Act is co-sponsored by the Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports and would be the first bill in the U.S. to ban food additives.

2. Indonesian agtech startup Koltiva raises a Series A funding round

Koltiva, an Indonesian startup at the forefront of groundbreaking technologies for sustainable farming and supply chain traceability, has raised a seven-figure Series A funding round led by AC Ventures.

According to its website, Koltiva aims to help businesses achieve traceable and resilient global supply chains. Supply chain traceability is the ability to identify, track, and trace elements of a product or substance as it moves along the supply chain to the consumer. This process provides insights into supply chain operations’ environmental and social impacts.

The Jakarta-based startup has a global presence in 52 countries, offering technology solutions for producer profiling and plot mapping, seed-to-table traceability, supply chain mapping and verification, climate-smart farm support, land-use mapping, digital transactions, and more. The company also provides training and coaching to raise awareness of sustainable practices and facilitate the implementation of farm development plans.

3. The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation is building 24 school gardens in 24 hours

On Sept. 23, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation will build 24 school gardens in 24 hours as part of its “24 Gardens in 24 Hours in 24 Communities” contest that launched in April to honor Earth Month. Approximately 3,000 schools across the U.S. were nominated, and the final 24 were selected following a three-month vetting and interviewing process.

500 Sprouts team members will install the learning spaces, and Sprouts will also provide training and mentoring for educators to teach gardening and nutrition education to different grade levels.

The foundation is a part of Sprouts Farmers Market, a Phoenix, Arizona-headquartered supermarket chain offering fresh, organic products at a more affordable price. According to its website, the foundation aims to increase nutrition education and fresh food access across the U.S. through grants, community service, and a knowledge network.

4. Imperfect Foods is now selling its sustainable wines on the DRINKS eCommerce platform

Imperfect Foods, a San Francisco-based company offering a low-emission delivery service for sustainably sourced, affordable groceries, recently announced the online availability of its sustainable wine collection on the DRINKS alcohol eCommerce platform.

Customers can browse the DRINKS platform to find Imperfect Foods’ extensive collection of low-impact wines featuring red, white, rose, and sparkling wine varieties. Imperfect Foods is also known for its “Rescued Wine” program, in which the company sells wine that couldn’t be sold in stores due to damaged or slightly scuffed labels at a discounted price. According to a press release, “Rescued Wine” will be available during limited-time flash sales at Imperfect Foods.