Natural or not? Cape Cod Chips called into court over citric acid
Cape Cod Chips now faces two lawsuits alleging the brand’s ‘no artificial’ claims don’t square with its use of synthetic citric acid
Regulation, policy & food safety
Milk-based drinks added to UK sugar tax: Here’s what you need to know
The UK is expanding its Soft Drinks Industry Levy to milk-based drinks. Here are the new rules
Baked into law: Why only Bimbo can sell a ‘donut’ in Spain
Spain’s Supreme Court has given Grupo Bimbo exclusive rights to the word ‘Donut’ – igniting debate over who owns the language of food
Up the food chain
EFSA’s new boss: Why faster risk assessments are my guiding light
The newly appointed Dr Nikolaus Kriz has ambitions to optimise European food safety
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
UK health watchdog slams hidden sugar in ‘healthy’ snack bars
A nationwide survey shows huge sugar and calorie spikes in UK snack bars marketed as healthy, prompting Action on Salt & Sugar to call for tougher rules.
Why brands are dropping synthetic dyes ahead of regulation
Synthetic dyes may still be legal but shifting consumer trends and rising US state-level pressures mean bakery and snack brands aren’t waiting for mandates to start cleaning up their color palettes
Popstar Robbie Williams warns of GLP-1 vision loss - here’s why it matters for F&B
Vision fears are the next shockwave to hit GLP-1 drugs
New lipid gets EFSA novel food approval, and it cuts cholesterol
Food and drink manufacturers now have a new lipid to add to their formulation toolbox – one that boasts health and sustainability credentials
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
Quaker is fighting global hunger with food science
PepsiCo’s Quaker brand is using science, local know-how and a bit of stubborn optimism to tackle one of the toughest global challenges
Power, tariffs and a test for the presidency: Supreme Court case could reshape US trade policy
As the court considers Trump’s emergency tariff powers, small businesses warn that the policies are pushing them to the brink
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
Canada’s bakers are done playing defense
The Baking Association of Canada’s new Executive Council isn’t just another talking shop – it’s a wake-up call for the nation’s $21.5bn bakery sector to stop firefighting and start leading
A splinter too far: Tyson’s corn dog recall bites back
A splinter in a corn dog might sound trivial – until it lands in court, potentially costing millions and shaking consumer trust in food safety
Inside the gluten revolution: The 3 breakthroughs bakers should pay attention to
From gene-edited wheat to a three-minute gluten test, scientists are rethinking gluten-free baking and the results could change everything
Another EUDR backflip: How did we get here?
In a dramatic pivot, the EU’s anti-deforestation law looks like it will be pushed back for some, and reworked for all. Here’s a timeline to help with the whiplash
Inside discount retailer Lidl US’ recipe for success: Fresh, value and focus
From SKU rationalization to supplier partnerships and front-line empowerment, CEO Joel Rampoldt is reshaping Lidl US’ playbook for sustainable growth and earning consumer loyalty along the way
UPF awareness rises but confusion reigns over what’s healthy, Non-GMO Project finds
Consumer concern about UPFs has surged, but understanding still lags far behind, according to new research from the Non-GMO Project
APAC salt reformulation rises in response to grading schemes, salt taxes
With salt taxes looming and nutri-grade schemes making their mark, more APAC food firms must reformulate to meet health and regulatory demands
Opinion
The snackdown: Mars may win EU approval but retailers will decide Pringles’ fate
The European Commission may be ready to wave through Mars’ $36 billion takeover of Kellanova, but in Europe’s snack aisles, the regulator isn’t the kingmaker. The retailers are
UPF labelling is coming - but in what form?
Ultra-processed foods could soon be immediately recognisable front-of-pack
The great color reckoning: America’s breakup with fake dyes
With US states set to ban or label synthetic dyes, Sensient CEO Paul Manning unpacks the economics, supply pressures and sensory science driving America’s shift to natural color
What happens when nutrition science collides with politics? Kevin Hall found out
New book explores what the science really says about metabolism myths, UPFs and misinformation
California’s ultra-processed food ban could reshape school meals and national policy
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a landmark bill yesterday requiring the state to define UPF and eliminate the ‘most harmful’ ones from school meals over the next 10 years – a decisive action in sharp contrast to national efforts and political MAHA rhetoric
PepsiCo and Frito-Lay sued for ‘mold-made’ molecule in Poppables
A new lawsuit claims the citric acid in Frito-Lay’s Poppables isn’t natural but brewed from black mold and that PepsiCo misled consumers with its ‘no artificial flavors’ promise
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
Opinion
Fitness guru Joe Wicks’ anti-UPF rhetoric hurts more than his Killer bar
Joe Wicks is launching a “Killer” protein bar to expose ultra-processed foods – but his rhetoric risks misleading consumers more than the ingredients ever could
Politics, lawsuits pose a new dynamic – ‘Greenhushing’
Fair Trade leaders discuss challenges and wins in ethical, organic, sustainable sourcing
Regeneration is no longer a CSR box-tick - it’s the future of food security
ADM’s Kelsey Cambruzzi insists regen ag isn’t about soft sustainability claims but building a resilient supply chain, linking farm-level practices to consumer trust
EU biscuits face acrylamide reckoning
A new study shows more than a quarter of biscuits on sale blow past EU safety benchmarks for acrylamide – a probable carcinogen that’s testing regulators’ patience and shaking consumer trust
Letter from the editor
Healthy snacking gains momentum under MAHA push
Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again campaign and rising consumer demand for “free from” claims are reshaping retailer assortments and opening doors for emerging brands
Opinion
The snackdown: Trump calls ESG a scam – why snack giants call it survival
ESG’s under political fire in Washington, but the snack giants keep flexing. From Oreos to Doritos, their reports show that in today’s food industry, trust’s as valuable as profit.
USDA’s SNAP stocking overhaul is a ‘mixed bag’ for retailers and shoppers
While USDA says the update would double food choices and close loopholes, advocates warn it won’t meaningfully expand healthy options and could strain small, independent retailers
Opinion
The snackdown: Europe dithers while chocolate-linked deforestation grows
Brussels has kicked the can down the road on its flagship deforestation law again – blaming IT problems while forests fall and compliant companies foot the bill.
How Gen Z made Free From the flavor of modern wellness
Forget bland gluten-free loaves and chalky sugar-free chocolate. For Gen Z, Free From is culture, not compromise and it’s rewriting what health and indulgence look like
Consumers prioritise food safety in purchases
More consumers understand food safety than ever before, according to EFSA
European Commission wants to delay EUDR, again
The Environment Commissioner hopes lawmakers will agree to postpone the deforestation regulation yet another year
Opinion
The snackdown: Can bread ever be clean with glyphosate in the mix?
Bayer’s latest push for legal immunity puts the future of ‘clean’ bread and cereal under the spotlight
Tariff war takes a turn with removal of hundreds of items
US continues negotiations with trade partners while awaiting Supreme Court to overturn blocked tariffs
Sustainable September
130 seconds to destroy a forest unless the EUDR holds the line
Snack giant Mondelez wants more time before the EU’s landmark deforestation law kicks in – but campaigners say the clock has already run out
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
Labour’s HFSS pivot – what’s actually changing?
With just months to go before promotional deals are banned on products classed as high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), what does Labour’s pledge to repeal the rules mean for food manufacturers?
Opinion
The snackdown: MAHA throws a Froot Loop at Kellogg’s
Once the pride of America’s breakfast table, Kellogg’s now finds itself in the crosshairs of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Make America Healthy Again crusade. The fight over Froot Loops isn’t just about dyes – it’s a test of whether Big Food can survive a...
Have children’s cereals quietly turned into empty calories?
Forget sugar for a moment. A new analysis shows kids’ cereals are steadily losing the very nutrients that once made them worth eating at all
Consultation launched over CBD authorisation process
A consultation on the proposed authorisation process for cannabidiol (CBD) food products has been launched by the Food Standards Agency.
Ozempic nation: Why GLP-1s are forcing bakers and snack makers to rethink everything
GLP-1 drugs are gutting demand for cookies, chips and bread – threatening billions in sales but opening the door to a new wave of protein- and fiber-driven snacking