Alt Meat Companies Suing Each Other Over Intellectual Property + Food Companies Cutting Ties with Russia – Xtalks Food Podcast Ep. 52

Meati Foods and The Better Meat Co., two fungi-based alt meat companies, are suing each other over intellectual property (IP). In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney highlights two separate sets of alt meat companies that are embroiled in legal battles over a proprietary technology and the use of an ingredient, respectively. Meati has accused Better Meat of stealing its mycelium harvesting tech, while Better Meat has accused Meati of damaging its reputation and fundraising efforts. Meanwhile, another ongoing lawsuit is underway between Impossible Foods and Motif Foodworks over alleged copying of alt protein food technology. The team wonders whether more alt meat and dairy companies will face similar legal battles in the future since every company aims to be the first to introduce new technologies and products to market.

Also, in this episode, Sydney discusses some food companies that have cut ties with Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Among them include food giants like General Mills, Nestlé and Cargill, while a small number of companies are still doing business in Russia, including Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the owner of Burger King. RBI said its 800 Burger King locations in the country remain open because they are stand-alone franchise operations that are independently owned. The team wonders whether this is a good enough reason for its restaurants to stay open, but posits that sanctions come with negative outcomes for the common people. 

Read the full articles here:

These Alt Meat Companies are Suing Each Other Over Intellectual Property

These Food Companies are Cutting Ties with Russia Amid War with Ukraine

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