Are gluten-free products unhealthy?
Gluten-free is gaining popularity. But the sector has recently received criticism for being unhealthy. So, are the rumours true, and what can industry do about it?
Science
Could a plant-based diet improve heart health?
Plant-based diets have been linked to a whole range of health benefits, from improving gut health to slowing cancer progression. Now research suggests it could also improve heart health.
All-star panel confirmed for digital sugar reduction event
What’s next for food and drink sugar reduction? Is it sweeteners, plant-based or less sugar altogether FoodNavigator explores in this, free digital webinar
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?
Finnish start-up making mycoprotein more sustainable and affordable
Mycoprotein is one of the most popular alt protein sources on the market. Now Espoo-based start-up, Enifer, wants to take it to the next level.
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?
How microplastics affect gut health
How, and why, do microplastics alter the microbiome?
Therapeutic food development leads to gut health breakthrough
Therapeutic foods have been used to combat malnutrition in children since their inception in 1996. But could they also boost gut health in children and adults? And what NPD opportunities would this create?
Could keto diet improve autoimmune disease symptoms?
The controversial keto diet is lauded by supporters and condemned by critics. So will research linking it to autoimmune benefits tip the scale in its favour? And what F&B NPD opportunities could that create?
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.
Cultivated freshwater eel tech opens new opportunities in Japanese market
A cultivated seafood tech business has developed a system of cell cultivation to allow for commercial freshwater eel farming.
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?
The next caffeine? A̅repa drills down into cognitive benefits of novel molecule found in blackcurrants
A̅repa is conducting further research on how a novel molecule discovered from New Zealand blackcurrants, which it has also patented, could benefit mood and cognition in healthy populations.
Erectile dysfunction and plant-based diets – a urological health revelation?
The murky waters of urological health are rarely linked to or promoted within food and drink marketing. Could plant-based diets reduce the risk of common conditions such as erectile dysfunction?
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.
Top technologies food and drink makers are using now
Using the best technologies can help food and drink businesses stand out from the competition. But what’s out there and how are companies using tech in different ways?
Intermittent fasting could prevent diabetes – How can F&B help?
Diet is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes. Is intermittent fasting the solution? And what can the food and beverage industry do to engage with it?
Personalised diet breakthrough signals future of industry
New gut health research could be beneficial to personalised nutrition brands fighting for consumer interest.
Replacing oils and fats with water: Deep-tech start-up secures €4.2m
Healthier food-tech business MicroLub, which uses tech to replace fats and oils with water – while claiming sensory retention – has closed a €4.2 seed investment round to commercialise.
Can coffee consumption during pregnancy affect development?
It is far from conclusive whether or not coffee consumption during pregnancy can hinder neurodevelopment among children. But a new study dives deeper.
Conflicting caffeine research confuses consumers
Caffeine’s effect on vascular health has been a hot topic for years, with researchers putting forward positive and negative arguments. Now, a new study is adding to the conversation. But what's the truth?
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.
Future Food-Tech 2024
Heura sets sights beyond meat with ‘six more patents’ incoming
Heura Foods is flexing its business muscles and seeking to bolster its portfolio by expanding beyond meat alternatives into other markets, with collaboration a key tactic in its arsenal.
UPF linked to type 2 diabetes - what does this mean for industry?
New research has linked ultra-processed foods to type 2 diabetes. How will this latest blow impact the food and beverage industry and is reformulation the only solution?
Could anti-inflammatory effects of sweetener boost sales?
Health concerns have put the sweetener industry in jeopardy. Could new research help to restore its reputation?
Novonesis develops ‘cleaner ingredient deck’ for plant-based meat with biosolution technology
Biotech company, Novonesis, addresses core taste, texture and nutritional challenges in plant-based meat and dairy with its biosolution technologies, potentially reducing the ingredient label deck.
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.
Good news for gut health industry as bad gut bacteria linked to obesity
New research has identified gut bacteria associated with food addiction and obesity in humans. How can the food and beverage industry harness this knowledge and what NPD opportunities does it create?
Soup to ice cream: climate change pushing consumers to iced treats
Global warming is pushing consumers away from hearty bowls of hot soup and more often towards tempting, cooling ice cream.
Cow-less casein protein 'first' creates full cheese spectrum
A full spectrum of ‘cheeses’ can be made without cows, following the development of a casein that can self-assemble into micelles, the foundation for stretchy, protein-rich cheese alternatives.
Could links to longevity boost plant-based sales?
The plant-based trend has slowed in recent months, but new research could be set to restore its fortunes.
Food tech investment slump seeing slow u-turn
Food and drink investors remain cautious over which businesses to pump funds into on the back of a “challenging” market that’s remained stagnant following a steep decline, a banking expert tells FoodNavigator.
Are low-carb diets driving malnutrition levels – can F&B help?
Low carbohydrate diets have long been lauded as the secret to weight loss. But are they lacking in essential nutrients and how can the food and beverage industry support adopters?
How precision tech will reboot dairy industry profits
Dairy value sales will balloon to over $1tr in the next decade as the sector combats myriad issues by adopting emerging food technologies like precision fermentation and cellular agriculture.
Prebiotics may improve frailty in the elderly: RCT
Three months of supplementation with a prebiotic blend of inulin and oligofructose may significantly improve measures of frailty in the elderly, says a new double-blind, randomized, controlled trial with 200 people.
Industry breakthrough in the fight against fake foods
Counterfeit food and beverage products are a major blight on the industry, and a serious concern for consumers. Now the industry is fighting back and it’s using science to do it.
ADM and Carrefour among businesses ramping up cage-free food calls
Europe’s biggest food and beverage companies are rallying in support of a complete ban on caged food production.
Gold standard: Infant formula that mimics mother’s milk promotes bone and digestive health – Junlebao
Infant formula that mimics lipid structure of breast milk enhances calcium absorption and modulates gut microbiota, and in the process, strengthens the overall immunity, say preliminary findings of an ongoing trial.
Capturing ammonia: Materials to catch this crucial chemical
Ammonia is crucial in many parts of the food industry, including food safety and the production of fertilisers. A new study looks at different ways to capture it.
Synbiotic yogurt consumption reduces oxidative stress, a risk factor for developing cancer, diabetes
Consuming the functional dairy product can lower the risk of cell and tissue damage that can later cause chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Filtration technique could slash the cost of cultivated meat
One of the key barriers to upscaling cultivated meat is cost. With a more efficient process and a cheaper culture medium, a new study claims to have reduced this input.
Mapping the ‘food microbiome'
New research, which maps the ‘food microbiome’, opens up a range of new avenues for study and points to significant overlap between food and human microbiomes.
In an uncertain market, can advances in personalized nutrition democratize health, wellness?
When German multinational company Bayer closed vitamin provider Care/of earlier this summer, analysts raised questions about what the shuttering foretold for the personalized nutrition industry.
What are the drawbacks of fasting?
Fasting has many health benefits. However, it’s not all good news. Two studies look at some of its potential drawbacks.
No-added-sugar ice cream is as tasty as the regular sugar stuff – study
Ice cream brands won’t be risking their profits if they cut down sugar from their products – but may influence positive health changes for consumers.
FrieslandCampina study: Prebiotic increases Bifidobacterium abundance in women at low dose
Daily consumption of a low dose of Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) can increase the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in the feces of healthy women, according to a new study funded by FrieslandCampina.