Regulation

General Mills, Kellanova, Mars and McKee Foods sue sugar producers over alleged price-fixing

The food companies’ lawsuit alleges sugar producers used nonpublic competitor data to fix, raise and maintain granulated-sugar prices for years

Indonesia formalises halal rules for GM food imports

Indonesia has notified the WTO of formal halal requirements for genetically modified food imports, with additional compliance measures expected to follow

Policy Picks: India energy drinks, Japan earthquake and Aussie food fraud

India energy drinks, Japan earthquake and Aussie food fraud feature in this edition of Policy Picks

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

How brands can rebuild trust after a recall

Food recalls trigger category-wide callouts and traceability emerges as a competitive and strategic tool for brands to maintain consumer trust

FN+What the EU’s ‘meaty’ names ban means for hybrid meat

New proposals for labelling regulations have specified products must be exclusively composed of meat to merit ‘meaty’ names

FN+What could an EU UPF definition look like?

Not much is known about how the definition will turn out, but there are a few indications

FN+Science vs politics: Kiwi’s long road to EU health-claim approval

It took four years after Europe’s food-safety scientists backed green kiwifruit’s digestive-health claim for regulators in Brussels to approve it, raising the bigger question: What happens when the science is settled, but the politics are not?

CPGs could get relief from packaging claims patchwork, but with strings attached

Two bipartisan bills advancing in Congress would establish national standards for recyclable and recycled-content claims, but environmental advocates are challenging their approach to mass balance and state preemption

FN+Allulose-containing products claiming zero sugar threatened with growing litigation

A wave of proposed class actions targeting “zero sugar” and “sugar free” claims is putting allulose-containing products in the crosshairs, following a pivotal Seventh Circuit ruling involving Chobani

FN+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

FN+Abbott settlement and Kendamil case add to formula industry scrutiny

The infant formula industry is still reckoning with safety, supply and legal pressures as Abbott Nutrition settles serious injury claims and Kendal Nutricare faces scrutiny over advertising claims

FN+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

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

FDA wants more GRAS oversight – but can it handle the workload?

FDA wants companies to notify the agency when they determine food ingredients are Generally Recognized As Safe. But with hundreds of potential notifications and fewer staff, questions remain over whether FDA has the resources to review them

Marion Nestle and former Kellogg exec team up on cereal industry exposé

‘Sugar Coated’ connects decades of cereal-box designs to the policies governing food labels and health claims

Could FDA’s GRAS proposal chill investment in novel food ingredients?

Mandatory GRAS notifications could make regulatory risk a bigger factor in fundraising, partnerships and M&A, potentially pushing innovators toward safer bets and away from riskier products

FN+Terms including ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’ could be added to EU ‘meaty’ names ban

A range of terms have been added to the proposal

FN+Physicians group sues USDA and HHS over Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The lawsuit claims the guidelines were written by a secret panel of industry insiders

Grocery volume declines deepen as SNAP cuts reshape shopper behavior

As tighter SNAP eligibility reduces food-assistance participation, shoppers are shifting toward staples, value brands and lower-priced retailers, which is putting new pressure on grocery sales

Feds threaten prosecution over undisclosed digital surveillance pricing

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public input on a proposed enforcement policy targeting businesses that secretly use consumer data to set individualized prices

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

FN+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

Canadian dairy groups urge Government to protect food sovereignty in US trade talks

Dairy groups in Canada have urged the Government to defend the sovereignty of its food production while in negotiations with the US.

Opinion

No ingredient can make up for a balanced diet: Why ‘maxxing’ trends are not the answer

Consumers should not focus single-mindedly on any ingredient

New Trump tariffs ‘like deja vu’ according to food industry panel

As the administration replaces IEEPA duties with section 301 forced labor tariffs, food and beverage importers face renewed legal battles and supply chain uncertainty

GAO report: Walmart, Amazon lead in worker SNAP and Medicaid use

Big-box food retailers, including Amazon, Target, Kroger and more, employ tens of thousands of workers that qualify for public programs

The new sustainability playbook starts with suppliers

The race to build a climate-smart food system is putting ingredient suppliers in the spotlight

FN+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

FN+Roughly 80% of US food products will be labeled GMO by 2028

A federal district court has given the USDA until Jan. 1, 2028, to revise bioengineered food disclosures and close controversial QR code loopholes

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)

FN+FDA’s UPF definition may lack legal force, but not policy impact

The agency’s decision to submit a white paper rather than a proposed rule limits its legal force but could still influence voluntary reformulation, front-of-pack labeling and future federal food policy

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

Court clears way for lawsuit challenging US ban on FODMAP labeling

The ruling reverses a 2024 dismissal and allows a challenge to federal limits on low-FODMAP package labels to move forward, potentially reaching the US Supreme Court

GLP-1 beverage innovation outpaces regulation, creating challenges for drinks manufacturers

Beverage innovation in the GLP-1 space is moving faster than regulations, meaning drinks companies could be facing “significant complexity” new research has warned.

FN+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

FN+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

Retailers rethink SNAP strategy as enrollment and spending decline

As SNAP enrollment shrinks, retailers rethink value, convenience and e-commerce

IFT FIRST

FDA to hand off food inspections to states

The administration’s BRIDGE Project is working to shift responsibility to states by 2030

FN+Is environmental compliance becoming Big Food’s biggest cost?

After years of delays, the EUDR’s arrival is scheduled for December 2026, prompting businesses to invest in sustainability and adopt an environment-first strategy

FN+FDA and USDA face three-way fight over UPF definition

Should UPFs be defined by processing, ingredients or nutrition – or a combination of all three?

Global Food Tech Awards EMEA

FN+What’s driving Europe’s alternative protein sector in 2026?

Industry leaders see long-term growth in Europe’s alt protein market, despite a challenging environment

Critics slam DOJ’s $3.3 million egg price-fixing settlement

Legal experts and antitrust watchdogs argue the penalty is negligible compared to billions allegedly earned through manipulated egg prices

Florida subpoenas General Mills over bromate flour

General Mills is the first company to face a subpoena as Florida opens a consumer-protection probe into a century-old dough conditioner most of the world abandoned long ago

South Korea moves closer to cell-cultured food regulations

The South Korean government has announced local food regulation changes that will specify standards for cell-cultured foods, paving the way to local product approvals

FN+Feds ramp up ‘Made in USA’ enforcement, putting food brands on notice

New warning letters and recent settlements signal rising scrutiny of origin claims, as lawsuits surge and regulators target misleading labels beyond just manufacturing sectors

Policy Picks: Indonesia palm oil, India food safety and UAE Nutri-Mark

Indonesia palm oil, India food safety and UAE Nutri-Mark feature in this edition of Policy Picks

Watchdog group blasts USDA move to roll back poultry and livestock protections

Agency pushes implementation to 2027 and seeks comment on removing competition and trust rules, prompting criticism from advocates