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At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, business owners were panicking at the thought of going under, and federal financial assistance programs provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA) felt like a lifeline to many teetering on the edge of solvency.

One of those programs – the highly publicized Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – has been widely lauded for providing stability for the U.S. economy and keeping companies in business through loans that were largely designed to be forgiven. But an earlier SBA program – Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – was in place for business owners concerned about their survival at the very start of the pandemic. Now, four years later, its terms have left many business owners feeling hamstrung.

EIDL Expert Insight: “The concern I had then… is that folks were making business decisions in the midst of the unknowns of COVID [rightfully so, but] in a much more siloed environment,” explained Chris Kane, a partner at at Adams and Reese who has worked with the EIDL program for nearly 15 years. 

“People weren’t thinking about: what does this mean for growth, and what does this mean for me in terms of my business’ five year plan? It was, ‘Hey, we need to survive. We think we need this money and we’re going to take it,” he said.

The loans themselves came with generous repayment terms: many owners were able to defer payments until this year, and the interest rate of 3.75% over 30 years compares favorably to current business lending rates that are nearly double. Additionally, the program allowed for hardship extensions that have allowed recipients to make lower monthly payments.

But repayment itself is not the issue: These small business owners feel the required personal guarantees on loans over $200,000 have created a massive hurdle to growth, leaving them with few options to dig their way out of the debt without risking bankrupting both their businesses and themselves.

Nosh Insiders can access the full story to understand the complications EIDL has created and what experts believe can be done to remedy a range of unique situations.

According to a new report from market researcher SPINS, the acceleration of better-for-you products has expanded grains in American diets beyond the familiar wheat and rice, with the once-niche sustainable grains sector now worth $41 million.

📈 Though dollar share of the seven core sustainable grains (teff, sorghum, amaranth, millet, quinoa, farro and buckwheat) fell 4% year-over-year to $41.4 million, farro (+8%), buckwheat (+7%) and amaranth (+1%) are showing continued strength as single products. 

👀 Baking mixes have become a key playing field for these grains to serve as a value add, with pancake and cookie mixes from brands like Bob’s Red Mill and Maja providing convenient indulgence via ingredients like sorghum and quinoa. 

🤔 The report emphasizes that brands can succeed in the grains category by addressing four consumer mentality shifts: healthspan versus lifespan, new global notions, protecting the planet and intentional indulgence. 

Insiders can learn more about how sustainable grains are fueling food and beverage innovation in the full story on Nosh.

It’s finally Friday, folks! And that can only mean one thing – it’s time for the release of our weekly new product gallery. Here’s a brief overview of what’s in store:

🇺🇲 Just in time for the upcoming presidential election, Ben & Jerry’s partners with Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute (BVM) to launch Churn Out the Vote. The limited-batch flavor features pretzel swirls, fudge chips and ripples of chocolate mousse in vanilla ice cream.

🌱 Plant-based protein maker TiNDLE announces the U.S. debut of its new Stuffed Chicken line, which was previewed at Expo West in March. The brand’s Stuffed Chicken is available in Parmigiana and Tikka Masala varieties at GIANT and MARTIN’s stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

🍍 GoodSAM Foods unveils its latest product, Crispy Crunchy Fruit Chips, which are available in five varieties: Pineapple Chips, Plantain Chips, Pineapple Slices, Banana Chips, and Pineapple Chili Lime Chips. 

Keep an eye out for the full new products roundup on Nosh later today. 

The U.S. Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter to Austrofood S.A.S., the co-manufacturer at the center of the lead and chromium contamination in kids’ apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches late last year. 

📝 This FDA letter addresses that the Ecuadorian company did not follow a proper hazard analysis, which could have reduced the risk of contaminated product getting to consumers.

✉️ The letter lays out a timeline with specific examples of how the company failed to catch the issue before the recall was made and how it can abide by U.S. food safety and testing regulations in the future.

🍏 Austrofood co-manufactured food company Negasmart’s apple cinnamon fruit pouches, which were distributed and sold (and recalled) under the WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis brand names.

📥 The FDA has asked the company to respond within 15 days to confirm it had received the letter and how it intends to prevent another contamination in the future.

As the summer comes to a close, brands are tapping a variety of recognizable faces – both real and fictional – to bring some attention to new product launches. Let’s look at the latest collaborations:

🌊 KIND is using the back-to-school season as the ideal time to launch its new Kids bars. The new product line is launching with an advertising campaign featuring Kristin Cavallari and Tori Spelling taking a nostalgic look back at their own school years in SoCal.

🍉 Del Monte Foods is introducing its new Bubble Fruit Gel product with an exclusive merchandise drop designed by content creator and author Steffy Degreff. The 3-SKU line of boba and fruit gel snacks were the inspiration for the giveaway that includes apparel and swag designed by Degreff.

👶 Everyone loves “sweet threads,” especially kids on their way to the first day of school with a lunchbox full of Stonyfield’s new Kids ZEROg Sugar Added Pouches. The organic dairy company has launched a four-piece apparel line made of 100% sugarcane textiles to coincide with its new pouches.

🍨 Häagen-Dazs has teamed up with Netflix’s hit show Emily in Paris with a “Be More Emily” campaign that includes the release of a co-branded Strawberry and Salted Caramel LTO flavor. Très Delicious!

🤖 There is “more than meets the eye” in Mavericks’ partnership with Paramount Pictures. The cookie creator has launched a “Snack Like A Hero” campaign in conjunction with the upcoming release of the new “Transformers One” movie and released new co-branded packaging in addition to hosting ticket giveaways and immersive events for the upcoming movie release.

Plant-based dairy co. Elmhurst 1925 was born from evolution; recall it was originally a NYC-based dairy delivery operation until 2016. But we’d be lying if we said we saw this one coming: Elmhurst’s newest role is as plant-based meat maker, thanks to the launch of “revolutionary chicken alternative” TerraMeat, boasting 26 grams of complete protein from hemp.

🐔 Elmhurst has always touted its patented HydroRelease method, developed by food scientist Dr. Cheryl Mitchell, as the secret behind its range of plant-based milks – now it’s being used to create “chicken” from hemp protein powder.

🧑‍🍳 That’s right: rather than burgers or other cuts, TerraMeat is sold as powder for consumers “to craft their own fresh plant-based chick’n cutlets” by blending with water, adding a touch of oil and a spice blend, and heating it in the microwave. It’s a bit more legwork, but cuts out the need for some of the filler ingredients, texturizing agents, whiteners and other additives found in highly processed alt-meats.

🤑 Being at the forefront of plant-based innovation has a price: the TerraMeat Plant-Based Chick’n Starter Kit – 10 pouches Plant-Based Chick’n Powder, 10 packets of Original Spice Blend, a silicone mixing cup, and a spatula – runs for $47.50 on Elmhurst’s website.

Do you plan to try TerraMeat, or have you already? Let us know your thoughts at news@bevnet.com.

Pour out a glass (of milk) because baked goods lost a big name this week. Wally Amos, the creator of cookie brand Famous Amos, died at 88. 

Per Amos’ obituary in The New York Times, he was an “indefatigable entrepreneur” who started the business in 1975 with a $25,000 loan from Hollywood friends including Marvin Gaye, Helen Reddy and a few others. The former talent agent began with a shop and 3 SKUs on Sunset Boulevard and, by 1988, sold the company for $3 million (about $8 million today).

He eventually returned to his entrepreneurial baker roots through numerous new ventures including muffin brand Uncle Wally’s, Aunt Della’s and Cookie Kahuna. In 2016 he even appeared on “Shark Tank,” peddling the latter brand for a 20% stake in exchange for $50,000 but did not receive an investment.