Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

A fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work? Banana workers could earn living wage

14-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Due to informality, lack of contracts, lack of unionisation and low awareness of workers’ rights, many banana workers do not earn a living wage. A range of UK retailers, including Sainbsury’s, aim to challenge this.

Is fibre essential for brain health?

14-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

The importance of dietary fibre for a healthy gut has been hailed for years now. But is it also the secret to a healthy brain?

Fight for agricultural reform intensifies as Commission caves on pesticide bill

09-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced that plans to cut pesticide use across the European Union have been dropped but environmentalists say the battle is far from over.

How will the BTOM impact food imports into Great Britain?

06-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), the first stage of which came into force on 31 January, will have a significant impact on how the EU trades with Great Britain. Over three stages throughout 2024, new checks and declarations will be required for...

An ‘all time low’ for orange juice? Disease and drought squeeze supply

06-Feb-2024 By Flora Southey

Is a global orange juice shortage set to plague the beverage industry?

3 start-ups boosting food quality in Europe

05-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food quality technology plays a vital role both in ensuring that food is safe to eat, therefore reducing food waste, and providing insights around its health and composition. Three European start-ups tell FoodNavigator how technology can help them understand...

'Vegan' labels don't always mean free from animal products

02-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Despite common public understanding that the word ‘vegan’ means free from animal products, there is no legally binding definition for the term in the UK and EU. This means that products labelled ‘vegan’ can contain trace amounts of eggs or dairy. Furthermore,...

Healthy plant-based diet could reduce risk of developing type two diabetes by 24%

31-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

A recent study has found that a nutritious plant-based diet, incorporating a reduced intake of processed and sugary foods, could decrease the risk of developing type two diabetes by improving metabolism and organ function.

‘Plant-based downturn isn’t halting innovation’: Beneo talks 2024 alt protein strategy

30-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

The ingredients supplier outlines its two-pronged alternative protein strategy, which it is betting on to reignite demand for plant-based meat.

Food allergy breakthrough: omalizumab displays promising results for kids and teens

30-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

A study on the effects of using omalizumab, in the treatment of food allergies, has shown an improved tolerance to a variety of everyday foods in children and adolescents.

Bee study reveals environmental vulnerability and food production threat

29-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Research revealing bees’ ability to synthesise specific nutrients, to support the colonisation of their gut bacteria, offers insights into the symbiotic relationship they have with their gut microbiota. But changes to their habitat is placing this delicate...

How MAP packaging can extend mushroom shelf life to two weeks

29-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Mushrooms have a very short shelf life. But with a range of MAP packaging specially designed to keep out moisture, a packaging company has managed to extend it from a few days to over two weeks.

Regulatory greenlight for cultivated beef leaves EU sector ‘hopeful’

26-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

The world’s first regulatory approval for cultivated beef has been granted in Israel. For EU cultivated meat stakeholders, is the greenlight yet another sign the EU – which has yet to approve such a product – is falling behind? Or does it hold promise...

Finetuning ‘beany, earthy, and bitter’ off notes in plant-based meat alternatives

26-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Off notes or flavour challenges in meat-free products has been a headache for the food industry for years, but new research could put that problem to bed once and for all.

Vertical farming gets boost with major investment

25-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Things are looking up for the vertical farming industry as investors back vertical farm tech provider, Intelligent Growth Solutions

Plant-based diet, whether ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’, linked to weight loss

24-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Latest research suggests replacing animal products with vegan alternatives provides multiple health benefits, including weight loss.

The race to meet the EUDR deadline is intensifying, so what help is available?

22-Jan-2024 By Donna Eastlake

December 30, 2024 marks the day by which supply chain stakeholders, including producers, importers, manufacturers, brands, and retailers within the European Union must ensure they are selling, importing and exporting EUDR compliant cocoa, coffee, palm...

COP28: Was food high enough on the agenda? And what's on the menu for COP29?

18-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

Just over one month has passed since COP28 closed its doors in Dubai, UAE, giving members of the Food4Climate Pavilion time to reflect on the climate change conference. Was food high enough on the agenda? And what’s on the menu for COP29?

Diversified protein sourcing is on the 2024 agenda: What's the path to mainstream adoption?

17-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

While the alternative protein scene continues to pursue widespread uptake and acceptance, in 2024, expect to see new and evolving concepts, technologies and regulatory support to progress towards attaining resilient food systems.

Do consumers want to eat upcycled food?

12-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Upcycling food is a good way of putting food to use that may otherwise have gone to waste. However, not all consumers will eat food that has been upcycled. A new study takes a broad look at 37 research articles on consumer acceptance, or lack thereof,...

Researchers develop ‘perfect meal’ for male astronauts

10-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Producing the right food in space is difficult, given the particular nutritional needs of astronauts and the difficulty of growing anything in the final frontier. Luckily, researchers have developed the ‘perfect meal’ for male astronauts: a vegetarian...

Processed plant-based meat: Clearer communication on the horizon, predict experts

09-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

European producers in 2024 will focus on informing consumers about processed and ultra-processed foods and drinks, potentially lowering content in formulations to encourage plant-based meat or dairy alternatives uptake.

EU urged to better integrate agrifood trade interests into policy

09-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Ahead of the European elections in June 2024, The European Liaison Committee for Agricultural and Agrifood Trade (CELCAA) calls for better integration of agrifood trade interests in EU policy.

OECD report puts UK and Ireland top for five-a-day fruit and veg consumption

05-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

‘Health at a Glance’, a new report from the OECD, has revealed the UK and Ireland consume the most fruit and vegetables out of 30 countries assessed. However, there has been a slight reduction in overall fruit and vegetable consumption since it was last...

Africa needs to diversify crops to achieve nutrition security, study suggests

05-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Crop diversification is an important part of achieving nutrition security; the risks of reliance on a single crop are immense. Sub-Saharan Africa, suggests a new study in Nature Food, must diversify its crops to achieve food security by mid-century.

From ‘travelling through taste’ to cognitive health: The 2024 trends predicted to shake-up food and beverage

03-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

What food and drink trends have been predicted for 2024? We catch up with ingredients suppliers ADM, Arla Foods Ingredients, and Prinova Europe to ask how they’re preparing for the year ahead.

Is the ‘healthy indulgence’ production trend out, the immunity diet one in for 2024?

22-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

With the increasing emphasis on consumer health and wellbeing, a food futurologist shares the top 2024 dietary trends that will make a big impact—and interesting fruit and veg choices and eating occasions are getting a big appearance.

Health and taste from fruit-based sweeteners

21-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Fruit has been used for sweetness in Europe since before we even knew about refined sugar. It’s still in widespread use as the basis for sweeteners.

Recreating Willy Wonka flavours with food science: 'In principle, we could simulate any flavour'

05-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Food and flavours collide with the film world and a fictional favourite as a University of Warwick professor explores the most famous creations of chocolate idol Willy Wonka ahead of its reimagined release premiering in December 2023.

‘We believe consumer demand for healthier choices is there’: PepsiCo expands its use of diverse ingredients

24-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Ingredients such as whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and plant-based protein are highly nutritious. Snacks major PepsiCo, in its shift towards expanding its ‘diverse ingredients’ portfolio, plans to produce products containing...

Consuming the right diet can add years onto our lives even in old age, study suggests

23-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

What are the main benefits of eating a healthy diet? Well, according to a new study, living longer for one.. In fact, some longevity-related diets, particularly involving whole grains and nuts, can increase our lives by up to a decade.

Addressing unsustainable practices in the coconut supply chain: ‘Farmers are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty’

22-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

The Sustainable Coconut Partnership, founded by FMCG and ingredients heavyweights, was set up to establish best practice, impact programmes, and harmonise industry requirements for coconut supply chain players. Now a revised charter is bringing an assurance...

EU project pushes for adoption of Mediterranean diet as road to ‘healthy, active lifestyle’

15-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The EU is funding a project aimed at promoting the Mediterranean diet as a route to a ‘healthy, active lifestyle.’ Coined MEDIET4ALL, the project will work with ten partners across eight countries, brings together expert knowledge from Europe and Africa...

NPD Trend Tracker: From peanut butter stout to Christmas chocolate nut mix

13-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

This week in our NPD Trend Tracker, we have new products from Baileys, which is releasing a nut mix for the Christmas period, and Brixton Brewery, which has teamed up with ManiLife to create a peanut stout. Furthermore, Freedom Brewery, Milliways and...

‘Buying deforestation-free should not be a choice’: Ferrero ‘well placed’ to comply with EUDR, but sector challenges remain

08-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

Ferrero Group considers itself well prepared for the EU Deforestation Regulation, which will apply to its palm oil and cocoa supply chains. But potential challenges and unintended consequences could threaten its effectiveness, suggests Francesco Tramontin,...

Developing markets will lead the next wave of chocolate and nut growth: ofi

03-Nov-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The humble hazelnut is poised to tap into a host of new applications, trends and markets, says ingredients giant ofi (olam food ingredients).

Unilever unearths regen ag findings for Knorr and Hellmann’s: ‘The time for pilots is over. It’s time to go big’

02-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

The environmental impact results from Unilever’s first set of regenerative agriculture projects in Spain, Italy, and the US have been dug up, with findings suggesting boons for food resilience and environmental sustainability.

GUEST ARTICLE

Industry Insights from NIZO: Great flavour without compromise for plant-based food

26-Oct-2023 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

To successfully launch a plant-based product onto the market today, businesses have to go above and beyond in flavour to stand out. How can a new, more holistic flavour approach put an end to organoleptic compromise?

Could ancient Peruvian crops promote a healthy gut and help those living with type 2 diabetes?

24-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The Andes has traditionally been a source of excellent food and medicinal plants. Now science is turning to ancient Peruvian crops to explore their benefits in boosting the gut health and preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.

Broccoli sprouts contain an abundance of polysulfide molecules, research shows

24-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Broccoli is already widely known for its nutritional qualities. However, a new study reveals that broccoli sprouts contain an abundance of polysulfide molecules, which exhibit a range of health benefits. This is significantly more than does mature broccoli....

Denmark unveils the ‘world's first’ action plan for plant-based foods

23-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Eighteen months after the Agreement on the green transformation of Danish agriculture was approved by the Danish Parliament, Food Minister Jacob Jensen has launched the government's new action plan for plant-based foods.

Algae discovery could be used to enhance the productivity of crops

20-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Scientists have found a ‘climate change coping mechanism’ that may be able to counter the reduction in the productivity of crops.

International food trade has overall positive effect on health, but red meat imports can lead to excess death, study suggests

19-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

While international trade in food can lead to positive outcomes, it depends on the food being traded. The trade in nuts, legumes, fruit and vegetables usually leads to improved health outcomes in the country that imports it. However, trade in red meat...

Eight crops endangered by climate change

19-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

From staple crops like potatoes and maize, to cash crops for wealthier customers like cocoa and coffee, climate change is having a widespread impact on global agricultural production.

News in brief

French food tech firm Umiami raises €32.5 million to speed up distribution in Europe

17-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

French plant-based whole-cut chicken producer Umiami has secured a further €32.5 million Series A funding, bringing its total raised to date to over €100 million.

‘CROP is designed for small spaces’: Crops can be grown indoors by new technology

12-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

To grow crops, one normally needs a range of resources: soil, access to sunlight and space, and most importantly, an abundance of time. A new technology, which uses an automated system to grow crops, such as nutritious microgreens and mushrooms, indoors,...

Quorn, mycoprotein and the push to grow a ‘third kingdom of fungi proteins’

10-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Mycoprotein and fungal proteins hope to offer a solution to the negative impact to the environment associated with industrial farming, heard FoodNavigator’s recent Climate Smart Food​​ digital summit.

‘Synthetic vs natural’: Start-up targets fortification category disruption with organic plant-derived nutrients

06-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

UK-based BIOVIT is poised to launch plant-derived nutrient blends targeting fortified food and meal-replacement markets. Its vitamins and minerals, extracted from leaves, flowers, roots and fungi extracts, guarantees nutrient content, it claims, to boost...

Branston’s race to net zero in the potato supply chain

05-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Branston, one of the UK’s largest suppliers, has begun trials to assess the viability of creating net zero potatoes. Field Technical Manager Andrew Blair shares his insights into the methods the company is following and how it hopes to establish a process...

‘More than mylk’: Alternatives to coffee, cocoa, salt and sugar on the table at Mylkcubator 3.0

27-Sep-2023 By Flora Southey

The Mylkcubator programme has largely focused on next-gen dairy innovation to date. But for the incubator’s third edition, dairy-major Pascual wants to expand its focus to alt coffee, cocoa, salt, sugar and more.