The Old Country Newsletter – No More Red Meat?

My personal favorite book series of all time is The Emigrants, by the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg. Through the four books in the series, we get to follow the triumphs and tribulations of early Swedish immigrants in America. In the first book, "The Emigrants," we meet Karl Oskar, Kristina Nilsson, their three children, and eleven others who set out from Småland in 1850, seeking a better life away from poverty, religious persecution, and social injustice.

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Northvolt Cuts 1,600 Jobs Amid Financial Struggles

Swedish battery maker Northvolt is cutting 1,600 jobs as part of a major downsizing effort due to its ongoing financial crisis, affecting nearly a quarter of its workforce in Sweden.

CEO Peter Carlsson described the decision as difficult but necessary, noting the personal impact on the employees and families involved. The layoffs will hit Northvolt’s Skellefteå site the hardest, with 1,000 positions eliminated. Another 400 jobs will be cut in Västerås, and 200 at the company’s headquarters in Stockholm. In Skellefteå, the development of the Northvolt Ett project will be paused, while in Västerås, the Northvolt Labs initiative will be scaled back to focus solely on core product development.

Northvolt’s financial troubles have been brewing for the past two years, with the company struggling to ramp up battery production. This has affected major clients, such as Swedish truck manufacturer Scania, as the factory’s output has remained far below capacity. Compounding these issues, the company has faced difficulties raising new capital, leading to the cancellation of expansion plans for additional factories.

Carlsson pointed to a tougher financial environment and fluctuating electric vehicle sales as contributing factors, with automakers dialing back their ambitious targets, which has in turn spooked investors. The company’s priority now, according to Carlsson, is reducing costs and focusing on core operations to achieve profitability.

Negotiations with unions are ongoing, with Camilla Frankelius, head of negotiations for Sveriges Ingenjörer, expressing concern for the affected employees but pledging support to help them find new opportunities quickly.

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The Swedish National Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) is pushing for a major dietary overhaul, recommending a sharp cut in red meat consumption.

The updated guidelines propose a weekly limit of 350 grams of red meat—that’s roughly 12 ounces for those more familiar with the American way of weighing things. While meat is nutrient-dense, Livsmedelsverket warns that eating too much beef, pork, and lamb increases the risk of colon cancer, according to nutritionist Åsa Brugård Konde.

Poor eating habits, along with smoking, are considered among the top threats to public health in Sweden. The agency notes that a quarter of the population is at risk of diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer due to their diets. Livsmedelsverket estimates that following their guidelines could prevent half of all heart disease and one-third of all cancers.

The new guidelines will be finalized in early 2025. The proposed cap on red meat is 30% lower than the current recommendation of 500 grams (17.6 oz) per week. The agency also stresses minimizing processed meats like sausage and bacon, as they’re not only linked to higher cancer risks but also contain high levels of salt and saturated fat. Livsmedelsverket hopes even small changes in eating habits could save up to 5,000 lives a year.