News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
Former GLP-1 users looking to keep the weight off are a potentially underserved consumer base looking for foods and beverages that will help the feel full longer, manage portions and meet their health goals
With a growing number of people ditching GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, producers are being drawn into a far more complex conversation about nutrition, psychology and long-term eating behavior
As climate, disease and regulation strain global cocoa supply, manufacturers are turning to low‑cocoa and cocoa‑free innovations to protect margins and future-proof their portfolios
Consumers are often attracted to the same diets for different reasons
For fifty years, key nutrients and ingredients such as protein, zinc, magnesium, and iron have been declining
Manufacturers get the spotlight for launching GLP-1-friendly food and drink, but it’s ingredient suppliers behind the scenes often spotting the trends that make it possible
Foods that do not meet the definition of ‘non-ultra-processed’ are UPFs by default
AI can do a lot more than offer guidance and write emails. It can help food companies find brand-new ingredients for product formulation
Sometimes recipe reformulation is a choice, sometimes it’s an order
Within a narrow funding landscape, plant-based inputs are emerging as one of the most pragmatic ways cultivated meat companies can reduce costs and move toward commercialization
Cycle‑syncing nutrition is exploding, and brands are betting big. Is this the next major wave in women’s health?
From autonomous R&D to real‑time supply chain resilience, AI is redefining the rules of food and beverage. Is industry ready for the next era?
Up The Food Chain
Hubert te Braake already had the dream job: as director of research and development at Heineken, he’s tasked with creating the world’s next big brews. Now he’s been given a shiny new €45m ($53m) lab to do it from
Why ‘climate-proof’ cacao start-up Kokomodo is hedging its bets on an increasingly stronger future for cell cultured cocoa
As demand for natural sweeteners grows, Manus moves monk fruit production in the US
Could dark chocolate become the next big anti‑ageing ingredient? New research suggests it might, and the opportunities for brands are huge
From AI-powered ingredient discovery to zero-waste packaging and next-gen proteins, the top 30 global food-tech list showcases the game-changing technologies shaping the future of food
Climate cooling isn’t enough to save cocoa, wine, and coffee – industry needs to do more to protect these crops for the future
New research reveals fruits and vegetables carry high pesticide risk
New research linking omnipresent emulsifiers to gut damage and obesity is raising tough questions for manufacturers
Nestlé is exploring cutting-edge genomics and sustainable sourcing to safeguard cocoa supplies
The beverage industry has long argued that soda is singled out unfairly when it comes to soda taxes. But now there’s pressure to extend measures across ultra-processed foods
Lancet research shows evidence of the health impact of ultra-processed dairy remains fragmented
Opinion
Plant-based innovation isn’t just about better ingredients - it’s about better collaboration
New research suggests natural sweetener stevioside may help boost hair growth
Looking back at our Sustainable September initiative, where does the food and drink industry thrive and fall?
As GLP-1 drugs disrupt the weight loss market, food and beverage players are racing to unlock the appetite-regulating power of functional ingredients
In a world first, casein proteins have been developed at industrial scale from an unlikely ingredient: whey
Sweetened drinks are linked to an even greater risk of liver disease than their sugary counterparts
The plant-based protein boasts quality, versatility and efficiency
Brain food is booming. As consumers seek sharper focus and long-term cognitive health, the food industry is responding with powerful ingredients and smarter nutrition
The discovery of ‘nutritional dark matter’ is unlocking new paths for smarter food innovation, targeted health benefits, and precision nutrition
Less than one percent of people eat in line with the Eat-Lancet Commission’s planetary health diet. What would it take to get absolutely everyone on board?
Opinion
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
Are ultra-processed foods really the enemy?
New research reveals caffeine could boost mood and energy - especially in the morning
A major food and drink player has ambitions to close its waste loop, but can it be done?
A breakthrough in cocoa fermentation could finally deliver consistent, high-quality flavour every time
Sustainable September
Time2Graze uses satellites to optimize pasture-based grazing in a world-first initiative
The global food and drink industry’s biggest sustainability call to action has kicked off in the first month-long Sustainable September event
Pepsi’s new beverage innovation contains prebiotic fibres
Another cocoa-free ingredient is in development for chocolate - and this one has added functionality
The global food and drink industry’s biggest sustainability call to action has kicked off in the first month-long Sustainable September event
Ultra-processed foods have been found to have a detrimental effect on reproductive health
It turns out diet and nutrition play a crucial role in hair health
Two food and drink giants reveal key strategies to secure raw materials vital to business survival, as climate change exposes the fragility of global supply chains
With GLP-1 users eating less often, chewy and long-lasting snacks like jerky, protein bites, gummies and gum are stepping up as the formats that make every portion count
Scientists discover possible solution to ‘bitter’ taste in artificial sweeteners
New research links high UPF consumption to a 41% increase in lung cancer risk, independent of smoking
Mars teams up with biotech firm Pairwise to futureproof cocoa crops using gene editing