Alexander J. Stein
@ajstein.bsky.social
Agricultural economist interested in food, nutrition, health, sustainability. PhD. EU. Private account. Posts + Likes ≠ endorsements. Blocking trolls, unsupported claims etc. More infos at www.AJStein.de
Pinned
Alexander J. Stein
@ajstein.bsky.social
· Nov 27
Personal update: After some reflection, I decided to share that I have #cholangiocarcinoma, a rare & aggressive #cancer. This has little to do with the focus of my posts here, but I hope that it can help raise #awareness of this serious #illness. More details at: AJStein.de/cholangio.htm
The "backfire effect"—the idea that correcting misinformation reinforces false beliefs— isn't supported by data. On average, fact checks actually do more good than harm: thelogicofscience.com/2026/02/17/i... #Communication #FactCheck #Misinformation
Is the “backfire effect” real?
The “backfire effect” is a psychological phenomenon in which correcting misinformation actually reinforces the false view rather than causing someone to reject it (Nyhan and Reifler 2010). This top…
thelogicofscience.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:15 PM
The "backfire effect"—the idea that correcting misinformation reinforces false beliefs— isn't supported by data. On average, fact checks actually do more good than harm: thelogicofscience.com/2026/02/17/i... #Communication #FactCheck #Misinformation
#Hospital menus can be made more #sustainable (replacing meat with #plantbased options) with current #catering suppliers—without compromising protein & calorie content, and in line with dietary standards. Such changes are also likely to be acceptable to many patients: doi.org/10.1136/flga...
Increasing meat-free and plant-based patient menu choices in an acute hospital setting: a comparative nutrient analysis
Objective Determine if nutrient content on a hospital inpatient menu could be matched when replacing meat with meat-free and plant-based alternatives including legumes, eggs and dairy sources of prote...
doi.org
February 16, 2026 at 6:14 PM
#Hospital menus can be made more #sustainable (replacing meat with #plantbased options) with current #catering suppliers—without compromising protein & calorie content, and in line with dietary standards. Such changes are also likely to be acceptable to many patients: doi.org/10.1136/flga...
Food products sometimes carry both #nutrition & health claims and warning symbols (e.g. for high saturated fats, sugars or sodium). To avoid inconsistent messaging, #labeling regulations should restrict nutrition & #health claims on products that require warning symbols: doi.org/10.1017/S136...
Mixed messages: evaluating the concurrent presence of nutrition and health claims and front-of-pack warning symbols in five food categories in Canada | Public Health Nutrition | Cambridge Core
Mixed messages: evaluating the concurrent presence of nutrition and health claims and front-of-pack warning symbols in five food categories in Canada
doi.org
February 16, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Food products sometimes carry both #nutrition & health claims and warning symbols (e.g. for high saturated fats, sugars or sodium). To avoid inconsistent messaging, #labeling regulations should restrict nutrition & #health claims on products that require warning symbols: doi.org/10.1017/S136...
A new tool by @hannahritchie.bsky.social shows the approx. energy consumption—linked to emissions—of everyday products & activities, nicely illustrating what matters more & what less. Try it out. No need to be precise, it's the orders of magnitude that matter: hannahritchie.github.io/energy-use-c...
Does that use a lot of energy?
hannahritchie.github.io
February 16, 2026 at 1:03 PM
A new tool by @hannahritchie.bsky.social shows the approx. energy consumption—linked to emissions—of everyday products & activities, nicely illustrating what matters more & what less. Try it out. No need to be precise, it's the orders of magnitude that matter: hannahritchie.github.io/energy-use-c...
Plant-based diets offer health & environmental benefits, but uptake remains limited—partly due to perceived high costs. However, a new review suggests that eating plant-based whole food is linked to lower food expenditures than omnivorous diets: www.doi.org/10.20935/Aca... >>
Cost and affordability of plant-based diets: global evidence from 2000 to 2025
Plant-based diets (PBDs) offer substantial health and environmental benefits. However, their adoption remains limited, partly due to perceived high costs. This narrative review synthesizes current evi...
www.doi.org
February 15, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Plant-based diets offer health & environmental benefits, but uptake remains limited—partly due to perceived high costs. However, a new review suggests that eating plant-based whole food is linked to lower food expenditures than omnivorous diets: www.doi.org/10.20935/Aca... >>
Climate change could expose 1.1 billion people to hunger by 2100 (incl. over 600 million children), if the world continues with current high levels of GHG emissions. Drastically cutting emissions would more than halve the exposure: theconversation.com/climate-chan... >>
Climate change could expose 1.1 billion people to hunger by 2100 (but there’s good news too) – AI modelling study
Without rapid cuts to fossil fuels and a shift to clean energy, climate change could drive over a billion into hunger by 2100, hitting Africa hard.
theconversation.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Climate change could expose 1.1 billion people to hunger by 2100 (incl. over 600 million children), if the world continues with current high levels of GHG emissions. Drastically cutting emissions would more than halve the exposure: theconversation.com/climate-chan... >>
Some wasps harbour the genetic material of viruses in their genome, helping them use moth larvae as living incubators for their eggs: doi.org/10.1038/d415... >> Horizontal gene transfer isn't just human-made, also nature produces transgenic organisms! #GMO #Science
Parasitic wasps use tamed virus to castrate caterpillars
A virus that became integrated into the wasp genome long ago is useful for subduing moth larvae.
doi.org
February 14, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Some wasps harbour the genetic material of viruses in their genome, helping them use moth larvae as living incubators for their eggs: doi.org/10.1038/d415... >> Horizontal gene transfer isn't just human-made, also nature produces transgenic organisms! #GMO #Science
Diets in richer countries are high in red & processed meat, refined grains & added sugars, harming both human health & environmental sustainability. The EAT-Lancet planetary health diet emphasises plant-based foods (with moderate amounts of animal-sourced foods) doi.org/10.1016/j.la... #Diets >>
Redirecting
doi.org
February 14, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Diets in richer countries are high in red & processed meat, refined grains & added sugars, harming both human health & environmental sustainability. The EAT-Lancet planetary health diet emphasises plant-based foods (with moderate amounts of animal-sourced foods) doi.org/10.1016/j.la... #Diets >>
Global warming is increasing both heatwave frequency and temperature, threatening agricultural productivity and food security worldwide. In China, the rising heatwave frequency reduces grain yields, particularly of summer grain: doi.org/10.1007/s125... #ClimateChange #Yields #FoodSecurity
Regional heatwave variations in China pose a threat to summer grain yields - Food Security
Food Security - Global warming has led to an increase in both heatwave frequency and temperature, posing a significant threat to agricultural productivity and food security worldwide. This study...
doi.org
February 14, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Global warming is increasing both heatwave frequency and temperature, threatening agricultural productivity and food security worldwide. In China, the rising heatwave frequency reduces grain yields, particularly of summer grain: doi.org/10.1007/s125... #ClimateChange #Yields #FoodSecurity
#Trade can help alleviate shortages & ensure #foodsecurity. While overall resilience is strengthening, import dependency remains concentrated among a few countries. Structural weaknesses may propagate thru dependency networks, potentially affecting global grain supply chains: doi.org/10.1007/s125...
The structure and robustness of the global wheat trade dependency networks - Food Security
Food security is a cornerstone of human survival and development, and food trade serves to alleviate shortages and ensure food security. Specifically, wheat is the staple food for about one-third of t...
doi.org
February 14, 2026 at 1:35 PM
#Trade can help alleviate shortages & ensure #foodsecurity. While overall resilience is strengthening, import dependency remains concentrated among a few countries. Structural weaknesses may propagate thru dependency networks, potentially affecting global grain supply chains: doi.org/10.1007/s125...
Messaging as a lever for healthy & sustainable diets: Increasing consumption of plant-rich diets as a #climate action has substantial health, environmental & economic co-benefits. Messaging tactics to increase the uptake of more plant-based diets should aim to… doi.org/10.3389/fsuf... >>
Frontiers | Messaging as a lever for healthy and sustainable diets: next steps for researchers and communicators
Increasing consumption of plant-rich diets as a climate action has received relatively little attention despite its substantial health, environmental, and ec...
doi.org
February 12, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Messaging as a lever for healthy & sustainable diets: Increasing consumption of plant-rich diets as a #climate action has substantial health, environmental & economic co-benefits. Messaging tactics to increase the uptake of more plant-based diets should aim to… doi.org/10.3389/fsuf... >>
According to a new commentary, Earth's climate is departing from the stable conditions that supported human civilization – agriculture, complex societies & today's ecosystems – for millennia. Crossing critical temperature thresholds may trigger self-reinforcing feedbacks… doi.org/10.1016/j.on... >>
Redirecting
doi.org
February 12, 2026 at 7:34 AM
According to a new commentary, Earth's climate is departing from the stable conditions that supported human civilization – agriculture, complex societies & today's ecosystems – for millennia. Crossing critical temperature thresholds may trigger self-reinforcing feedbacks… doi.org/10.1016/j.on... >>
Food & catering services can influence the environmental performance of the many meals they serve every day. Plant-based meals consistently have lower impacts, while dishes with animal-derived ingredients (esp. beef & fish) have higher impacts across multiple categories: doi.org/10.3390/su18... >>
doi.org
February 11, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Food & catering services can influence the environmental performance of the many meals they serve every day. Plant-based meals consistently have lower impacts, while dishes with animal-derived ingredients (esp. beef & fish) have higher impacts across multiple categories: doi.org/10.3390/su18... >>
Plant-based diets and ovarian cancer risk: A study from Italy with 3,500 patients & controls finds that plant-based diets are linked to reduced ovarian cancer risk—but eating more *unhealthy* plant foods increases the risk again: doi.org/10.3390/nu18... >>
doi.org
February 11, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Plant-based diets and ovarian cancer risk: A study from Italy with 3,500 patients & controls finds that plant-based diets are linked to reduced ovarian cancer risk—but eating more *unhealthy* plant foods increases the risk again: doi.org/10.3390/nu18... >>
Evaluating environmental & nutritional trade-offs across aquatic, plant-based and animal options: Beef, veal & pork have the highest environmental burdens, even when taking into account nutrition. In contrast, mussels, seaweed & plant-based patties perform much better: doi.org/10.1088/2976... >>
February 11, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Evaluating environmental & nutritional trade-offs across aquatic, plant-based and animal options: Beef, veal & pork have the highest environmental burdens, even when taking into account nutrition. In contrast, mussels, seaweed & plant-based patties perform much better: doi.org/10.1088/2976... >>
Olympic biathlon stars consistently wear FFP2 masks. The reason is obvious: The #athletes don't want to get sick! "Everyone who wants to achieve a lot is doing it." So the athletes can also meet their families, friends & partners only outdoors: www-bild-de.translate.goog/sport/olympi... #FFP2 #masks
Biathlon-Stars feiern mit FFP2: „Werden die Maskenkritiker schnell leise“
Die deutschen Biathleten feierten ihren Bronze-Coup von Antholz mit im Teamhotel mit Masken. Das steckt dahinter.
www-bild-de.translate.goog
February 10, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Olympic biathlon stars consistently wear FFP2 masks. The reason is obvious: The #athletes don't want to get sick! "Everyone who wants to achieve a lot is doing it." So the athletes can also meet their families, friends & partners only outdoors: www-bild-de.translate.goog/sport/olympi... #FFP2 #masks
Grain imports by China can reduce global GHG emissions compared with domestic production—but may increase global cropland expansion due to differences in resource use efficiencies across countries: doi.org/10.1016/j.re... (1/2)
Redirecting
doi.org
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Grain imports by China can reduce global GHG emissions compared with domestic production—but may increase global cropland expansion due to differences in resource use efficiencies across countries: doi.org/10.1016/j.re... (1/2)
#Climate gains: Reducing household food waste has a lower impact on consumers’ carbon footprint than engaging in broader dietary shifts towards less animal-based and more plant-based food. Within #FoodWaste, avoidable animal-based waste has the highest climate impact: doi.org/10.1038/s415... #Sweden
Quantifying the realistic reduction potential of food waste in Swedish households - Scientific Reports
Household food waste is often framed as a critical challenge for food systems, yet the real potential and impact of waste reduction remain uncertain. This study assessed the prevention potential and t...
doi.org
February 8, 2026 at 1:55 PM
#Climate gains: Reducing household food waste has a lower impact on consumers’ carbon footprint than engaging in broader dietary shifts towards less animal-based and more plant-based food. Within #FoodWaste, avoidable animal-based waste has the highest climate impact: doi.org/10.1038/s415... #Sweden
Anti-poverty transfers (e.g. cash or food aid) do more than reduce hardship, they can shape how people perceive the state. When programmes pay on time and apply clear eligibility rules, political trust tends to increase: theconversation.com/anti-poverty... #poverty #governance
Anti-poverty programmes can change how people see the state and each other
Social transfers don’t operate in a vacuum. They can strengthen trust or erode it, build cohesion or fuel resentment.
theconversation.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Anti-poverty transfers (e.g. cash or food aid) do more than reduce hardship, they can shape how people perceive the state. When programmes pay on time and apply clear eligibility rules, political trust tends to increase: theconversation.com/anti-poverty... #poverty #governance
Two nudges work to reduce red meat consumption for environmental & health reasons—making plant-based protein sources the default option instead of beef, and showing meals' carbon footprint. This is relavant for policy-design & decision-making in catering & gastronomy: doi.org/10.1016/j.jc... (1/2)
Redirecting
doi.org
February 7, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Two nudges work to reduce red meat consumption for environmental & health reasons—making plant-based protein sources the default option instead of beef, and showing meals' carbon footprint. This is relavant for policy-design & decision-making in catering & gastronomy: doi.org/10.1016/j.jc... (1/2)
A main methodological weakness of the #NOVA classification of #ultraprocessed food is heterogeneity within the #UPF category, which puts together products with very different #nutrition profiles & potential #health impacts, whether some of them may be beneficial for… (1/x) doi.org/10.1017/S136...
Are all ultra-processed foods bad? A criticism of the food processing classification systems | Public Health Nutrition | Cambridge Core
Are all ultra-processed foods bad? A criticism of the food processing classification systems
doi.org
February 7, 2026 at 11:43 AM
A main methodological weakness of the #NOVA classification of #ultraprocessed food is heterogeneity within the #UPF category, which puts together products with very different #nutrition profiles & potential #health impacts, whether some of them may be beneficial for… (1/x) doi.org/10.1017/S136...
Restricting the use of nutrition & #health claims on food products that carry front-of-pack warning #labels (for being high in saturated fat, sugar or salt), could reduce consumer confusion… (1/2) doi.org/10.1017/S136... #Canada
Mixed messages: evaluating the concurrent presence of nutrition and health claims and front-of-pack warning symbols in five food categories in Canada | Public Health Nutrition | Cambridge Core
Mixed messages: evaluating the concurrent presence of nutrition and health claims and front-of-pack warning symbols in five food categories in Canada
doi.org
February 6, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Restricting the use of nutrition & #health claims on food products that carry front-of-pack warning #labels (for being high in saturated fat, sugar or salt), could reduce consumer confusion… (1/2) doi.org/10.1017/S136... #Canada
Brazil: Significant differences in ecological #footprint between omnivorous and #vegetarian menus were observed; #vegan menus demonstrated the lowest #environment footprint across all seasons. This underscores the importance of expanding vegetarian & vegan menu options: doi.org/10.1080/1537...
Seasonal assessment of the ecological footprint of university restaurant menus in south-eastern Brazil
Menu planning faces multiple challenges, including ensuring nutritional adequacy, efficient resource management, and environmental sustainability. Previous studies have associated plant-based meals...
doi.org
February 5, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Brazil: Significant differences in ecological #footprint between omnivorous and #vegetarian menus were observed; #vegan menus demonstrated the lowest #environment footprint across all seasons. This underscores the importance of expanding vegetarian & vegan menu options: doi.org/10.1080/1537...
Disclaimers are sufficient to differentiate #plantbased meat from #meat from animal flesh; banning use of "meat-related" terms is not needed to avoid confusion of #consumers. On plant-based meat, protein #labeling elicits a stronger demand response than environmental claims: doi.org/10.1002/aepp...
Beyond Labels: Exploring Consumer Preferences for Plant‐Based Meat Labeling Policies
Whether meat-related terms should be permitted on the labels of plant-based meat alternatives is hotly debated. Utilizing survey data featuring a discrete choice experiment, we examine consumer respo...
doi.org
February 5, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Disclaimers are sufficient to differentiate #plantbased meat from #meat from animal flesh; banning use of "meat-related" terms is not needed to avoid confusion of #consumers. On plant-based meat, protein #labeling elicits a stronger demand response than environmental claims: doi.org/10.1002/aepp...
One of CIA's oldest & most recognizable publications, The World Factbook, has been closed. It served as a longstanding, one-stop basic reference about countries around the globe, appealing to researchers, news organizations, teachers, students & international travelers: www.cia.gov/stories/stor...
Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell - CIA
www.cia.gov
February 5, 2026 at 7:11 AM
One of CIA's oldest & most recognizable publications, The World Factbook, has been closed. It served as a longstanding, one-stop basic reference about countries around the globe, appealing to researchers, news organizations, teachers, students & international travelers: www.cia.gov/stories/stor...