Are consumers really being “unknowingly poisoned” by seed oils?
Seed oils have come under fire from consumers and self-styled health experts, but what does the research say?
Food safety & quality
Does processing reduce nutrients in plant-based milks?
There could be nutritional downsides to plant-based milks, a new study suggests.
Why the food industry wants salt reduction
A range of companies within food and beverage want to reduce salt and sodium. What’s driving this trend?
Are diet drinks damaging to gut health?
The diet drinks industry is booming, but could links to gut damage threaten its success?
Is potassium a good alternative to sodium in salt?
Potassium is one of the most popular replacements for sodium in salt. But it may not be free of downsides.
High-fructose corn syrup linked to cancer growth
HFCS is fundamental to current food and beverage production, but could new research linking it to cancer growth change that.
Could GLP-1 drugs curb alcohol consumption?
The weight-loss properties of GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, have dominated headlines. But could they also cut alcohol consumption? And what would this mean for beverage manufacturers?
Guest Article
Improving mouthfeel of plant-based foods
Achieving good texture in plant-based products is an ongoing battle for the industry. So, what can be done to improve this vital element of consumer satisfaction?
Is government HFSS obsession unhealthy?
HFSS cuts have been high on government healthcare agendas for years now. But is the rush to reformulate doing more harm than good?
Cheapflation: How this economic phenomenon is impacting F&B
Cheapflation is having a major impact on consumer and manufacturer behaviour. So what is it and how long will it last?
Are GLP-1 drugs driving the fortification trend?
Users of weight loss drugs like Ozempic often need more nutritionally dense food as a result. Is the market supplying it?
Why was the UN plastic pollution treaty postponed?
Talks in South Korea to develop an international framework on plastic pollution were pushed to next year. Why?
Could seaweed be a natural substitute to controversial additive Bovaer?
Dairy manufacturer Arla Foods has faced severe backlash over its use of methane-cutting supplement Bovaer. But could seaweed offer a sustainable alternative?
DSM-Firmenich calls out ‘misinformation’ over Arla Foods backlash
Dutch multinational DSM-Firmenich has pulled no punches in its response to backlash over Arla Foods' use of methane-cutting additive Bovaer.
How F&B is getting creative with salt reduction
Europe-wide salt reduction regulations have pushed food and bev makers to innovate since 2007. So, how is industry cutting salt and what NPD is emerging?
Major NPD opportunities in intermittent fasting
Fasting diets are creating huge NPD opportunities in food and beverage. So, how can brands get involved and what’s next for this mega trend?
Front-of-pack labelling ‘must be mandatory’ urges sector head
Governments must work harder to push food and drink manufacturers to reduce sugar in their products and enforce front-of-pack labelling on the sector.
How microplastics affect gut health
How, and why, do microplastics alter the microbiome?
Raft of expensive food labelling requirements could hit sector
The European Commission is expected to favour a series of new food labelling recommendations set to pile additional costs onto food and drink makers.
What’s wrong with Europe’s novel food approval system?
The novel foods approval system has evolved since its birth near three decades ago, but has it progressed enough to meet the needs of a growing and innovation-heavy food and drink sector?
Are there hidden dangers to fortification?
Fortification is fast becoming the go-to for F&B brands looking to boost the health benefits of products. But could this actually have the opposite effect?
Saccharin daily intake threshold almost doubles post EFSA review
Safe daily intake limits for saccharin have been almost doubled by the European Food Safety Authority following a new review on the sweetener.
Insect protein buzz waning as patents slow
Insect protein’s predicted take off has been less than a flutter as market innovation stagnates, with worldwide patents sliding year-on-year again.
EU-wide ban on aloe vera preparations in food overturned
A three-and-a-half year legal war, fought by the supplement and natural food sectors, has resulted in a damaging ruling being overturned.
Why understanding allergens should be top priority for F&B manufacturers
Undeclared allergens in food and beverage products can be deadly. So why are allergen-related recalls still happening? What is industry doing to prevent them? And what NPD opportunities are being missed?
Protein Vision 2024
5 must know plant-based meat trends
Meat alternatives are back in growth, with recent Europe-wide data showing the category has rinsed away its droop and is ticking up. But what at are the factors behind this early-stage turnaround?
Why biodiversity is vital to food security
Biodiversity makes soil function effectively, pollinates plants and ensures the functioning of the food system. But what's being done to support biodiversity and is it too little too late?
UPF debate not black and white
There's a lot more to the UPF debate than just 'good' foods and 'bad' foods. We dive into the great UPF debate to discover more.
Deadly: New Bird Flu variant strength alarming industry
Death rates of 100% are leaving farmers and manufacturers concerned about the new Bird Flu strain.
Protein Vision 2024
Protein Vision 2024: Big name speakers reveal inside story
Quorn, Redefine Meat, THIS, La Vie and Rude Health are among the high-profile brands providing their valuable market intelligence at this year’s Protein Vision digital event.
NOVA reform: The flawed UPF classification system requires change
Some nutritious foods under the current NOVA system could be demonised alongside unhealthy variants. Industry's calling for reform, but what would the next generation look like?
Food industry attacked as ‘accountability’ taxes called for
Food manufacturers could be bound by a list of measures compiled in a bid to better regulate and hold industry accountable for unhealthy products and their consequences to consumer health.
Protected cheeses and vineyards receive €6.8m EC ‘resilience’ funding
Protected cheeses and world-renowned vineyards will take a share of the European Commission’s new €380m support package to help build climate resilience.
When is iron most bioavailable?
When it comes to essential nutrients, its vital to understand when they are at their most bioavailable. Iron is no exception.
Future Food-Tech 2024
How two start-ups are improving food safety and quality with innovation
Food safety and quality are two sides of the same coin. But how is the process of making food not only safe but beneficial for the consumer being made more efficient?
New EU novel food rules countdown begins
Novel foods in Europe will be subject to new safety assessments early next year as the European Food Safety Authority updates processes to better reflect the changing landscape and potentially speed up approvals.
Why shoppers are turning towards costly organic food and drink
More consumers are buying pricier organic food and drink, despite continuing cost-of-living pressures, with sales expected to rocket as governments push to make organic farming central to future sustainability strategies.
Opinion
How the food industry can excel – hot takes from Future Food-Tech
What was the gossip and top trends from this year’s Future Food-Tech? The FoodNavigator editorial team reveal their key insights and takeaways.
Vertical farming breakthrough could save industry from failure
Vertical farming has come under fire in the past, with opponents blasting its high energy usage and cost. So, will new findings to mitigate these drawbacks, silence the critics?
Top food and drinks trends for 2025 revealed – and it’s a big shift
Consumers are shifting towards uncharted food and drink trends territories in 2025, as they straddle health and indulgence and make peace with new origins and ag-tech, including GM.
Is all chocolate a UPF?
Controversy around ultra-processed foods (UPFs) continues to grow, especially with mounting scientific research as well as media attention scrutinizing the food group.
Speedier novel food approval as UK FSA changes regulation
The changes could make cultivated meat, precision fermentation and animal feed additive novel food applications quicker and more efficient.
Dangerous food contact chemicals found in humans
Thousands of food contact chemicals, including 100 of those potentially hazardous to health, have been found in humans.
Unilever, Nestlé and Coca-Cola villainised for government scientist ties
Mondelēz International, Tate & Lyle, Pepsico and a host of other global food and drink manufacturing majors face fresh scrutiny over their links to government-advising scientists.
Lactose-free dairy: A look at labeling standards and recommendations
The lactose-free milk market is in growth, but how are lactose-related packaging claims regulated in major global markets?
Business giants pile on pressure to cut antibiotics in global food chain
Food and drink suppliers will face increased scrutiny as 80 of the world’s biggest investors today join forces to pressure global leaders into tackling the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis or risk a worldwide financial meltdown.
Kraft Heinz leans on NPD to grow Lunchables sales post-lead claims
Kraft Heinz will launch “unseen” innovation to help stabilise Lunchables sales following US watchdog Consumer Reports' claims the product contained lead, news coverage of which spread globally.
Are phthalates linked to reduced fertility?
Phthalates are highly useful chemical compounds often used to soften plastic to make it more flexible. They have also been linked to a range of negative health effects.
Can front-of-pack labelling improve consumer perceptions of products in plastic packaging?
When a healthy product is encased in plastic packaging, this can negatively affect consumer perceptions of the product. Can front-of-pack labelling mitigate this?
The demand for ‘clean label’ meat alternatives?
With many consumers classing plant-based meats as ultra-processed, the race is on for manufacturers to ‘clean up’ labels.