**The Food and Drug Administration has approved a heart-health claim for U.S. soy oil. The approval follows the American Heart Association’s recent confirmation that the fats in soybean oil have benefits for cardiovascular health.

The United Soybean Board says the claim will help U.S. soybean farmers compete with other soybean oils known for heart-healthy benefits and will position U.S. soy in international markets where health-conscious decisions are being made.

**The vegetable-based Beyond Burger, made by Beyond Meat, is expanding into 600 Kroger-owned stores. It’s marketed as the “world’s first plant-based burger” sold in meat sections of grocery stores because it “looks, cooks, and satisfies so much like beef.” The makers claim the vegan burger tastes like beef. It’s made of mostly pea protein, yeast extract and coconut oil and gets its reddish color from beet juice.

According to Business Insider, Beyond Burger costs almost twice as much as regular ground beef per ounce. Investors include Bill Gates and the Humane Society of the United States.

Beyond Meat says the product is currently sold in more than 13-hundred stores, including most Whole Foods stores.

**Biofuels supporters called for increased cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel requirements in the Renewable Fuel Standards during an EPA hearing last week.

Bob Dinneen of the Renewable Fuels Association testified that many ethanol plants are in the process of adding bolt-on fiber conversion technology to their existing facilities. He says that could dramatically increase cellulosic ethanol production next year.

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