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Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
The tick-borne disease turning MAGA-supporters vegan
'As I sit here eating my sad, mushy oatmeal with only organic strawberries and maple syrup, I'm disappointed that it isn't bacon and eggs or a big juicy steak,' laments Tiffany, a young mum from deepest Kentucky writing on Facebook. 'I've tried the plant-based meats and they are so horrible. I feel so cheated – I'd kill for a hamburger,' adds Paula, her profile photo showing her dressed in full camouflage while out riding a horse. Both women are part of a US online community for people living with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) – a tick-borne illness colloquially known as the 'red meat allergy'. The number of cases has exploded in recent years, with warmer temperatures caused by climate change bringing ticks to new areas and helping them to survive all year round. More than 30,000 Americans are now thought to be infected every year, up from around 4,000 only 15 years ago. The syndrome, mainly caused by the bite of lone-star ticks, leads to a life-threatening allergy to certain animal products including beef, pork, lamb, and dairy. With few treatment options available, those diagnosed are forced – often begrudgingly – to adhere to a strict, plant-based diet. Most cases have been detected in MAGA strongholds like Tennessee, Texas, and Kentucky – places where red meat is a way of life and veganism is treated with the same scepticism as the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop. 'I had someone tell me he felt less Southern because he couldn't have barbecue,' said Dr Scott Commins, an allergist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he currently treats around 3,500 AGS patients. The disease is triggered when a tick bites a human and transmits a sugar known as alpha-gal into the bloodstream. Ticks pick up alpha-gal when they feed on mammals like mice, rabbits, or deer – animals in which the sugar occurs naturally. If the tick later bites a human, it can inject those sugars through its saliva. Because humans don't naturally produce alpha-gal, the immune system sees it as a threat and starts producing antibodies to fight it. The dietary complications arise because alpha-gal is also found in red meat and some dairy products; so once the immune system is primed, eating foods like beef, pork, or lamb can trigger an allergic reaction, typically between four to six hours after eating. The most common symptoms include hives, headaches, and stomach problems. In more severe cases, patients can go into anaphylactic shock, a potentially fatal allergic reaction that requires immediate treatment with an EpiPen. Not everyone who gets bitten will develop the allergy, but for those who do, even a small amount of red meat can trigger a reaction. 'You might eat a hamburger at six in the evening and feel fine – then wake up at midnight covered in hives. That delayed response makes the condition difficult to diagnose,' Dr Commins said. The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that around 450,000 Americans in total are now living with AGS. 'The range of these ticks is completely expanding. So what was at one point a southeastern US tick is now all the way up on our east coast to the Cape Cod area, like Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, but then also West to the Central US,' Dr Commins said. While most people naturally recover within three to five years, many will be continually reinfected because of exposure to ticks due to their work or way of life, he said. 'I would say probably only 15-20 per cent of my patients recover because they spend a lot of time outdoors – either working on farms or riding horses, doing hobbies that take them outside – and it may take nothing more than one tick bite every other year to keep the immune system producing that allergic response to Alpha gal,' he said. On average, it takes around seven years for a person to be formally diagnosed, due in large part to a lack of awareness among doctors and the public. The outlook – ironically, given his penchant for burgers – has only been made worse by the Trump administration's recent slashes to the CDC's workforce and budget. 'We've been working on trying to raise awareness with the CDC to create a campaign for patients and then also for healthcare providers, but that's now been put on hold,' said Dr Commins. There are some new and promising treatment options, however. The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approved a new drug, Xolairz, in February of 2024 that is showing promising results among AGS patients. The drug is taken every month via an injection, and works by blocking immunoglobulin, an antibody involved in allergic reactions. 'It's pricey, but it really does seem to work well to block reactions to red meat that occur accidentally and keeps people safer,' said Dr Commins. The main way to prevent and control AGS, however, is targeting tick populations. 'We haven't really done much to try and target ticks and drive down population numbers,' said Dr Commins. 'We have interventions with mosquitoes and other kinds of disease-vectors. We don't yet know much about the lone star tick and it's really under researched.' Meanwhile the apparent spread of veganism in MAGA country has already been taken up by conspiracy theorists, who smell a government plot to put them off their meat. 'Do you think Covid vaccinations helped this explode? It taught our bodies to attack and put our immune system into overdrive. I have always gotten bit by ticks. Why now?' writes Greg, another unwilling vegan whose grill is now gathering dust. Paula suggests smoking an aubergine, instead.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flax Protein Markets and Companies Analysis Report 2025 with Forecasts to 2029 & 2034 - Featuring Glanbia Nutritionals, Grain Millers, Myprotein, Linwoods Health Foods, Bioriginal Food & Science Corp. and More
Explore the booming Flax Protein Market: projected to soar from $38.54B in 2024 to $56.42B by 2029, driven by the rise in plant-based diets and demand for minimally processed foods. Dublin, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Flax Protein Market Report 2025" has been added to Flax Protein Market report delivers an in-depth analysis of the market's key characteristics, including size, growth potential, and segmentation. It provides a detailed breakdown of the market across major regions and leading countries, highlighting historical data and future growth projections. The report also examines the competitive landscape, market share insights, emerging trends, and strategic developments shaping the market. The flax protein market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $38.54 billion in 2024 to $41.68 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The expansion during the historic period was driven by the increasing global demand for functional foods, the rapid growth of end-use industries, the higher consumption of natural and organic food products, the rising demand for protein-rich dietary supplements, and the growing popularity of plant-based flax protein market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $56.42 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The projected growth during the forecast period can be attributed to the rising consumption of sports supplements, shifting consumer preferences, the increasing adoption of veganism and vegetarianism, a growing demand for minimally processed ingredients, greater awareness of health benefits, and the expansion of the food supplement industry. Key trends expected during this period include technological advancements in the food sector, supportive government initiatives for product development, increased adoption by the sports and fitness industry, innovations in food product formulations, and advancements in production increasing adoption of plant-based diets is expected to drive the growth of the flax protein market. For example, in October 2024, the Good Food Institute, a US-based non-profit organization promoting plant-based foods, reported a 7.1% increase in plant-based milk and dairy alternative sales, reaching €2.2 billion ($2.27 billion) from 2022 to 2023. Unit sales grew by 4.7%, while volume increased by 5.2%. This rising adoption of plant-based diets continues to contribute to the expansion of the flax protein companies in the flax protein market are introducing new high-protein product lines, including smoothies, to address the increasing demand for plant-based nutrition and functional foods. In January 2025, Daily Harvest, a US-based food manufacturing company, launched a new range of high-protein smoothies made with USDA-certified organic ingredients. These smoothies contain organic components such as flax seeds, ensuring high quality and sustainability. Each serving provides 20 grams of plant protein, catering to consumers looking for protein-rich options. The product line includes three flavors dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and mixed berry each designed to deliver a unique taste experience. The smoothies are made with fruit and vegetable ingredients, avoiding common allergens and irritants such as whey and June 2024, Simply Good Foods, a US-based food manufacturer, acquired Only What You Need (OWYN) for $280 million. This acquisition was intended to strengthen Simply Good Foods' presence in the rapidly growing health and wellness market by expanding its product portfolio with high-protein, dairy-free beverages. These products cater to consumers seeking clean-label, allergen-friendly nutrition options. Only What You Need (OWYN) is a US-based company that specializes in plant-based protein products, including flax protein America was the largest region in the flax protein market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. Report Scope Markets Covered:1) by Nature: Organic; Conventional2) by Source: Golden Flaxseed; Brown Flaxseed3) by Distribution Channel: Supermarket or Hypermarket; Specialty Stores; Convenience Stores; Online Sales; Other Distribution Channels4) by Application: Food Processing; Animal Feed; Nutraceuticals; Sports Nutrition; Personal Care Products; Infant Nutrition; Other ApplicationsSubsegments:1) by Organic: Cold-Pressed Organic Flax Protein; Sprouted Organic Flax Protein; Fermented Organic Flax Protein; Micro-Filtered Organic Flax Protein2) by Conventional: Isolated Flax Protein; Concentrated Flax Protein; Hydrolyzed Flax Protein; Defatted Flax ProteinKey Companies Profiled: Glanbia Nutritionals Inc.; Grain Millers Inc.; Myprotein Ltd.; Linwoods Health Foods Ltd.; Bioriginal Food & Science Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; SpainRegions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; AfricaTime Series: Five years historic and ten years Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per Segmentation: Country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market to Purchase: Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 15 geographies. Assess the impact of key macro factors such as conflict, pandemic and recovery, inflation and interest rate environment and the 2nd Trump presidency. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Identify growth segments for investment. Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market. Understand customers based on the latest market shares. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis. All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format. Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2025-2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $41.68 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $56.42 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.9% Regions Covered Global The companies featured in this Flax Protein market report include: Glanbia Nutritionals Inc. Grain Millers Inc. Myprotein Ltd. Linwoods Health Foods Ltd. Bioriginal Food & Science Corp. MediKonda Nutrients LLC Shape Foods Inc. Lakeside Food Sales Inc. GFR Ingredients Inc. Acetar Bio-tech Inc. Onset Worldwide Inc. Stony Brook Wholehearted Foods Inc. Marroquin Organic International Inc. AlpenPower Inc. Austrade Inc. Schalk Muhle KG Yupik Inc. VedaOils LLC Naturaplaza B.V. AKI Organic Inc. For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
