Packaging under fire: Do legal risks trump production headaches?
As PFAS regulation tightens and litigation accelerates, brands are being forced to rethink packaging choices that once seemed low-risk and routine
Processing & packaging
Are bread bags holding back recyclable packaging?
A new ultra-thin mono-material bread bag suggests the biggest barrier to recyclable packaging may no longer be technology but habit
Clean label vs. functional foods: Can the two trends coexist?
Functional foods are often ultra-processed – but can they be clean label?
Candy in the crosshairs
‘Elevated’ arsenic in candy reveals industry-wide food safety and regulatory risks
Even without enforcement action, publicly released contaminant data could fuel lawsuits, consumer confusion and regulatory scrutiny, while also undermining federal oversight
5 lesser-known crops with big innovation potential
Rice, corn and wheat may dominate global crop consumption, but for food makers wanting to stand out from the crowd, there’s a wealth of untapped innovation potential in ancient grains
The global bread labeling gap is catching up with bread marketing
From the US to the EU and Asia-Pacific, bread labeling rules haven’t kept pace with modern baking models, forcing bakers and retailers to rethink how they use terms like ‘wholegrain’, ‘sourdough’ and ‘freshly baked’
After GLP-1: Weight regain, food fear and the industry’s next reckoning
With a growing number of people ditching GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, producers are being drawn into a far more complex conversation about nutrition, psychology and long-term eating behavior
Crack it, snack it, recycle it: Packaging that’ll rule 2026
Snack packs are finally starting to look like they belong in 2026 instead of 2006, and the pressure to keep evolving isn’t letting up
Slack-fill suit puts cereal packaging practices in the legal spotlight
A class action filed in California in December accuses General Mills of selling air-heavy cereal boxes, dragging a familiar packaging gripe back into court
Can AI finally tame sourdough’s wild side?
As sourdough scales up worldwide, new research suggests artificial intelligence could help bakers manage fermentation without sanding off what makes it distinctive.
Science Shorts: PepsiCo AI start-up winner, cell-cultured cocoa and more
PepsiCo AI start-up winner, cell-cultured cocoa and more feature in this edition of Science Shorts
A bakery & snacks survival guide for 2026
10 texture trends that will define bakery & snacks in 2026
Crunch isn’t enough anymore. In 2026, texture becomes the main event, not the supporting act
Opinion: The snackdown
UPFs enter a new phase of scrutiny in 2026
Ultra-processed foods have been debated endlessly. In 2026, they’re being regulated anyway and food makers are discovering that definitions matter far less once policy gets involved
General Mills says price cuts are working
Cutting prices on about two‑thirds of its North America retail lineup helped General Mills beat Q2 estimates and flatten volume declines
The gluten glitch hiding in compostable packaging
Some compostable packaging made from cereals has been shown to shed gluten into gluten-free food, a problem the sustainability push never thought to look for
San Francisco sues Kellogg, General Mills, PepsiCo, Mondelez and more over ‘engineered’ foods
City officials say some of America’s biggest brands helped shape eating habits that are now coming back to haunt public health budgets
Industry takes aim at Lancet’s deadly UPF report
The Lancet’s latest series linking ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to harm across multiple organs has reignited debate over their role in public health
Opinion
The snackdown: The Lancet just declared war on UPFs
The Lancet’s new UPF Series doesn’t politely enter the UPF debate – it kicks the door open and bakery and snacks are suddenly standing in the blast zone
5 pillars powering private label’s ‘super cycle’ growth
Savvy consumers are looking for more than discounts – smart products and marketing can drive loyalty, according to Kantar
Trendspotting 2026
Beyond taste: The rise of the experiential treat in 2026
Flavor still rules bakery and snacks, but in 2026, the way they feel is fast becoming the new measure of delight
The snackdown: The great UPF witch hunt
When the food industry finds itself smeared as guilty by association – it’s not just the definition of ‘processing’ that’s under fire – it’s the entire business model
Non-UPF Verified debuts standard for CPG brands
The standard includes ingredient criteria and processing intensity that align with nutrition research and food system realities
Sustainability gets real: It’s crunch time for Europe’s snack makers
New ESA president Christopher Gosau says the region’s snack makers must turn bold sustainability promises into measurable progress or risk losing credibility
Protein, please: NPD with real muscle
Protein’s still flexing hard, but it’s left the gym and hit the grocery aisle
AI helps Hovis, Mars and PepsiCo cut factory downtime
From bread lines to snack plants, manufacturers are turning to artificial intelligence to predict breakdowns and keep production running at full speed
Automation meets its match in muffins: Why bakeries are the toughest floors to robotize
From batter variety to data quality, bakery floors pose unique hurdles for automation, but cobots, AI and smart glasses are helping producers rethink consistency, safety and flexibility
How to turn ingredient chaos into market advantage
Cocoa’s up, eggs are unpredictable and consumers still want it all. Ardent Mills’ Matt Schueller reveals how data – not luck – is driving the next wave of bakery innovation
The UPF contradiction: What consumers really do
The anti-UPF noise is getting louder, but behind it lies a quieter truth about what people actually buy, eat, and believe
Why emulsifiers deserve a second look
They’ve been branded unnecessary by the clean label crowd, but their role in texture, stability and sustainability is hard to ignore
Healthy, hot and functional foods driving c-store growth
Prepared-food sales are climbing, and younger shoppers are leading the push for fresher, clean-label offerings
UPF labelling is coming - but in what form?
Ultra-processed foods could soon be immediately recognisable front-of-pack
IBIE 2025: Robots, resilience and the reinvention of baking
Las Vegas became a proving ground for AI, automation and sustainability. ABA and BEMA argue the industry’s future depends on marrying technology with tradition
Trump’s gluten labeling gambit puts industry on edge
The White House’s plan to make America healthy takes a swipe at gluten. And what looks like a win for consumers could leave food companies tangled in costly compliance and spark a new political fight over what belongs on a label
Food tech investors embrace caution - and look beyond sustainability
Start-ups are being subjected to higher, more exacting standards before securing funding
Sustainability September
Farming for function: Edacious and ROA put nutrition under the microscope
Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance are teaming up to prove that how food is grown can directly boost nutrition, safety and consumer trust
Consumers prioritise food safety in purchases
More consumers understand food safety than ever before, according to EFSA
Fi Asia 2025
What are the 4 most crucial AI applications in food innovation?
AI is driving food innovation and marketing strategies – here are four major ways experts at Fi Asia 2025 say it is shaping production and improving relevance
Banks, bakers and brands bet on Africa’s supply chain
Erratic weather and rising costs are forcing Africa’s food sector to rethink how it sources grain and dairy – and how to keep bakeries and cereal lines running
Sustainable September
Agricultural sustainability grants up for grabs
The USDA, National Geographic Society and Growing Justice Fund offer funding to strengthen food production
Alternative materials market strengthens as sustainability declines
As the need for alternatives becomes clearer, sustainability fades into the background
Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2025
From pistachio butter to rainforest chocolate: Artisans shine at leading food fair
Here’s what caught our eye at the UK Speciality and Fine Food Fair 2025
Sustainable September
Compostable packaging gains ground: What CPGs should know about PHA
Innovations in compostable packaging are moving towards a commercial reality, and CPG brands that engage early with PHA solutions will be better positioned to meet sustainability and compliance demands
From Europe’s baguette to America’s bagged loaf: What sets them apart
Americans often say bread in Europe feels lighter on the stomach. Differences in wheat, fermentation and regulation suggest they may be onto something
Sustainable September
What shoppers really think of climate-smart chips and planet-saving pastries
Shoppers swear they care about sustainability, but in the snack aisle it’s still price, taste and convenience that decide what goes in the basket. So are ‘climate-smart’ breads and biscuits set to stay niche or can they crack the mainstream?
Sustainable September
Sustainability in the beverage industry: Unpacking the big issues in 2025
Single-use packaging makes the headlines: but what are the other big issues for the beverage industry? This month, BeverageDaily puts the spotlight on sustainability
Sustainable September
From net zero to no hunger: Bakery&Snacks powers up Sustainable September
Climate roadmaps, community kitchens and cleaner labels – Sustainable September showcases how bakery and snacks are delivering for consumers, the planet and communities, proving collaboration is the real gamechanger
“Good bread has its own story”: A conversation with Poland’s first bread sommelier
Aleksandra Bednarek wants the baking industry to stop treating bread as background product. For her, every loaf carries value – in craft, in culture and in how consumers perceive quality.
IBIE 2025: 7 reasons Vegas will be the hottest oven in baking
IBIE 2025 lands in Las Vegas this October with fresh pavilions, global talent, big competitions and the innovations set to shape baking’s future
The UPF lawsuit that fizzled – and why the next one might not
A US judge tossed the first big UPF lawsuit, but with mounting science and regulators circling, bakery, snack and cereal brands shouldn’t breathe easy just yet
Global plastics treaty talks collapse
After years of negotiations, no global regulations to tackle plastic pollution have been agreed