Democrats face grocery affordability test as one-third of shoppers cut meals
As Democrats prepare to take control of Congress, new dunnhumby research shows mounting financial pressure is changing how Americans eat and shop
Regulation, policy & food safety
Brexit checks headed for scrapheap but big questions remain
Further progress has been made towards easing trade friction between UK and EU borders, with a deal to remove ‘post-Brexit checks’ now agreed in principle. Here’s everything we know so far.
SNAP food and drink restrictions expand, pressuring CPG sales
Four more states are restricting SNAP purchases of select foods and beverages, adding to a growing patchwork of rules as early sales data points to declines in targeted categories and manufacturers assess the potential impact on demand
What can food brands learn from Doritos’ recipe rethink?
PepsiCo Europe’s VP of marketing innovation explains how manufacturers can improve nutrition, protect brand appeal and give shoppers a reason to keep buying.
Budget leaves F&B sector hungry for more support
The food and drink industry reacts to John Healey’s inaugural Budget as Chancellor.
Cornish baker fined nearly £4K after plastic found in “potentially deadly” wedding cake
A Cornish baker has been fined close to £4,000 after pieces of plastic were found inside a wedding cake described as potentially deadly.
Debunking snacking as we know it
Europe’s snack market expands from €187bn to €302bn in sales value when products beyond the traditional snack aisle are included, challenging manufacturers to rethink where growth will come from
UPF labeling could cost $14.2bn annually, study estimates
A University of Chicago-affiliated analysis estimates mandatory ultra-processed food labeling could affect 72% of packaged food products, while the Consumer Brands Association warns of additional costs, potential litigation and uncertain public-health...
Modern slavery: 97% of food and drink firms identify risks in supply chains
New research has revealed that as many as 97% of food and drink businesses have identified modern slavery or serious labour rights violations in their supply chains.
Healthy or ultra-processed? Why snack ratings disagree
Competing nutrition and ultra-processed food (UPF) standards are complicating reformulation and dividing opinion on what makes a healthier snack
The future of food safety testing - managing risk in a changing world
Food safety threats are becoming more complex. In this second instalment of the Food Safety Briefing series, industry experts come together to explore strategies, technologies and best practice shaping the next gen of food safety.
Nestlé backs landmark effort to improve cancer care
Food and beverage giant partners with the WSSO to make nutrition a standard part of cancer surgery care worldwide
Low-cal snack brand pulls product over mislabelled allergen risk
A low-calorie snack brand has recalled one of its widely sold products after a packaging error led to an undeclared allergen.
Learning platform for EU novel foods launched by think tank
The platform aims to develop insights to improve future pre-submission advice for novel foods
Fibre targets, sugar caps and lunchbox rules: Is school snacking heading for a reset?
England’s school food overhaul will reward bakers and snack makers who pair better nutrition with products that survive a canteen, a budget and a hungry 11-year-old
Middle East war on obesity: Can food and diet policies reverse the trend?
Middle East governments are ramping up measures in a new war, as rising obesity rates threaten public health. But can these measures deliver results?
‘Outdated’ nutrient rules let unhealthy foods slip through net
The Obesity Health Alliance is calling for swift government action, as its argues decades-old nutrient rules are letting ‘less healthy’ foods off the hook.
California signs voluntary non-UPF label into law
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing of AB 2244 into law creates the first state-backed, voluntary label for non-UPF qualifying products, amid a pending federal UPF definition
Fi Asia 2026
Climate change fuelling mycotoxin risks with ‘no known solution’
Climate change is adding on a new threat to an age-old food safety problem faced by the food industry, one that could be more dangerous that most people realise
Big Food warns growing scrutiny of ultra-processed foods could hit sales and costs
Campbell’s, PepsiCo, Conagra, Kraft Heinz and JM Smucker flag regulatory, consumer and litigation risks as debate over UPFs intensifies
Are GLP-1s creating Big Food’s next valuation trap?
GLP-1s are entering food industry due diligence, but buyers risk discounting resilient snack assets while overpaying for anything carrying a health halo
Can zero-waste snacking survive the leap to scale?
Earthnutz is taking its protein crisps from startup idea to scalable production, with virgin peanut oil giving the remaining raw material a second commercial life
When food marketing slips into misinformation
New EU-funded research reveals how vague claims, hidden sponsorships and emotive content can mislead consumers – and where producers risk crossing the line
EFSA gives positive opinion on CBD
The opinion could mark a milestone for CBD’s use in food
Australia food labelling under scrutiny as FSANZ weighs reforms
FSANZ is consulting on changes to food labelling rules as an investigation into food fraud and misleading labels raises fresh questions about Australia’s food labelling system
Federal funding for healthier school meals creates new product and procurement opportunities for CPGs
Federal school nutrition initiatives aiming to reduce or replace highly processed foods signals potential growth for CPG suppliers
Arsenic for breakfast? Cereal’s contaminant problem exposed
New testing raises awkward questions about what ‘better-for-you’ breakfast really means
California passes non-UPF food seal, setting potential blueprint for other states
AB 2244 creates a voluntary government-backed certification for non-ultraprocessed foods and requires certain large retailers to prominently display certified products
Big Food’s colour promises are colliding with supply chain reality
The dye deadlines are closing in, but the alternatives aren’t ready
News Bites
Food’s new rules: Regulation, reformulation and the reinvention of legacy brands
Transparency, health and regulation emerged as the defining forces shaping the food industry this month
Terms including ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’ could be added to EU ‘meaty’ names ban
A range of terms have been added to the proposal
3 lessons from a year of high-profile food recalls
Food safety leaders say brands that prepare for recalls before they happen can better protect consumers and maintain trust
Avo oil under pressure: Science and lawsuits challenge the premium halo
A major authenticity study and proposed class actions against Utz and Campbell’s are exposing the risks behind snacks’ costly avocado oil makeover
FDA considers new natural food color petitions as synthetic dye phaseout looms
Petitions seek approval for safflower yellow, expanded uses for gardenia blue and changes to carrot oil production as food makers move away from synthetic dyes
One dead in UK-wide salmonella outbreak linked to imported eggs
One person has died and hundreds have fallen ill after an outbreak of salmonella affected all four corners of the UK.
Overturning 7 industry assumptions about the GLP-1 consumer
The newest evidence challenges some of the food industry’s most comfortable conclusions about GLP-1 consumers
FDA tracks progress as brands ditch artificial colors
CPG companies and private label brands are cutting petroleum-based dyes and they want credit for it
Can PFAS be kept out of food?
The chemicals should be removed at the source, before they have a chance to contaminate food
Beyond Nutri-Score: Europe’s other front-of-pack labelling schemes
Nutri-Score is unlikely to become mandatory anytime soon, so what other FOP labelling schemes does Europe have to offer?
HHS proposes new GRAS rules and addresses UPF definition
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. announced landmark proposals requiring food manufacturers to notify the FDA about additives and confirms a UPF definition is pending
Balancing founder input with institutional control
As food and beverage businesses grow and attract external investment, founders must adapt to more formal governance structures. Laura Gray, senior associate at law firm, Birketts LLP, explains...
Mars-Kellanova: What Brussels really decided about brand power
The EU cleared Mars’ $36bn Kellanova deal without conditions and its reasoning reveals how much bargaining power a brand really has left.
WK Kellogg Co to cut artificial dyes and BHT a year ahead of schedule
The cereal giant has faced intense scrutiny for its use of controversial ingredients like petroleum-based dyes and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Letter from the editor
Science, trust and the next era of food innovation
From combating food misinformation to redefining healthy eating and scaling AI-enabled innovation, IFT FIRST 2026 underscored how evidence-based science is reshaping the future of food
The GLP-1 effect reaches ANZ
New research suggests Australia and New Zealand are following the same GLP-1-driven consumer shifts seen elsewhere, offering an early indication of where the wider APAC food market could head next
Cyclospora outbreak reshapes grocery shopping and restaurant traffic beyond recalled lettuce
Fear and uncertainty surrounding the growing Cyclospora outbreak are driving consumers away from fresh produce and toward frozen foods, creating ripple effects for grocers, restaurants and produce suppliers
UPF legislation raises stakes for food labeling and child-directed marketing
The debate around the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act signals rising political interest in warning labels, marketing restrictions and a federal definition of ultra processed foods
USDA pushes ahead with reorganization despite lawsuit and warnings of ‘brain drain’
Employees face relocation deadlines as the agency defends plans to move thousands of Washington-based staff to national hubs, while critics argue the overhaul is an effort to force workers out and threatens safety oversight
IFT FIRST
‘Facts aren’t enough’: IFT warns of growing food misinformation crisis
Nearly half of food science professionals are extremely concerned as viral content and distrust of institutions reshape the information landscape
Inside the UAE’s push towards a healthier food system
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Strategy for Healthy Nutrition 2031 has grand plans to revamp health and nutrition in the country — but lofty challenges lie ahead