Flavors of the future: global inspiration meets local innovation
Letter from the editor: Flavors of the future
From Filipino ube to North African harissa – how are global flavors shaping CPG innovation and what ingredients are leading the charge?
Food safety
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
Kroger’s sales growth slows as Cyclospora, drug-price changes weigh on Q2
Produce sales suffered during the Cyclospora outbreak, while Inflation Reduction Act-related pharmacy changes created a larger drag on comparable sales
Can ‘touchless’ preservation extend shelf life without adding ingredients?
As consumers push back against chemical-sounding preservatives, startups are developing technologies that protect food from the surrounding environment rather than adding ingredients to it
General Mills removes artificial dyes from its entire cereal portfolio
A market leader in cereal sales plans to remove artificial colors from all of its products by the end of 2027
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
3 lessons from a year of high-profile food recalls
Food safety leaders say brands that prepare for recalls before they happen can better protect consumers and maintain trust
Walmart to deploy 90 million Wiliot IoT tags by end of 2026
Driven by next-generation IoT pixels that monitor cold chain compliance for perishables, Wiliot cements its status as a retail logistics powerhouse
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
IFT FIRST
Can dairy retain its bioactive benefits without sacrificing food safety?
By preserving naturally occurring milk exosomes that conventional processing often destroys, biotech startup Exosomm says it can help manufacturers deliver clinically relevant bioactive benefits without compromising food safety, shelf life or scalability
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
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What it takes to earn a place in today’s snack cart
Economic pressure, growing health awareness and AI-powered product evaluation are making shoppers more selective, forcing snack brands to prove their value beyond price, says NielsenIQ’s Chris Costagli
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Can regenerative agriculture become food’s next big growth story?
Kiss the Ground CEO Evan Harrison and FOND Regenerative founder Alysa Seeland explain why rising consumer awareness is attracting retailers and what must happen before regenerative products can scale
News Bites
How CPGS are rewriting ‘better-for-you’
Cleaning up labels is no longer enough – value-driven consumers are forcing the industry to rethink the balance of price, health and convenience
How are Nestlé, Danone and Muscle Milk rethinking reformulation?
Additives and artificial colors and flavors continue to be axed from formulas as the industry balances a meeting consumers’ health goals with nutrition policy
The next tobacco fight? Marketing to children enters UPF debate
Campaigners warn that food companies are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to build brand loyalty from childhood
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What happens when apple growers spend more on labor than their crop is worth?
That question, and concerns about nutrition programs, food safety oversight and packaging mandates, was at the center of the produce industry’s lobbying push on Capitol Hill last week
Taste still rules, but may no longer be enough to win in the snack aisle
New Circana data shows consumers increasingly expect functional benefits alongside flavor, driving a shift from ‘better-for-you’ to ‘nutritious and delicious’ snacks, like those showcased at Sweets & Snacks Expo by Barebells, Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn and...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Are marketers misreading women?
Women drive 85% of consumer spending, but new research from NIQ discussed in the latest episode of Soup-to-Nuts podcast suggests outdated assumptions about women shoppers are giving way to more individualized ‘micro-realities’ that are influencing the...
Nestlé’s global footprint extends reach of startup Helaina’s protein
The partnership is a crucial milestone toward meeting infants’ nutritional needs in larger populations given Nestlé’s global footprint that would be difficult for the startup to achieve independently
Climate Smart Food: Is sustainability good for business?
FoodNavigator and AgNavigator’s new event will explore the business case for sustainability
Nestlé doubles down on growth in bold strategy shift
Nestlé resets growth strategy with shift away from price hikes and back towards volumes, brands and execution
Can infant formula catch up to breast milk?
A new generation of infant formula that recreates the immune, digestive and developmental benefits of human milk is creating regulatory challenges
The F&B jobs AI is targeting, but is it really that dire?
AI is accelerating reformulation, automation and data-led decision making at a pace that is already reshaping roles across the food and drink workforce
Has the ‘better-for-you’ boom gone too far in kids’ snacks?
As wellness claims flood the kids’ snacks aisle, some brands warn parents are becoming more sceptical of ‘better-for-you’ marketing and more focused on what products actually contain
Inside the science of making healthier food consumers will actually buy with ADM
ADM argues food makers can no longer tackle sugar, sodium or clean label goals one at a time without risking taste, texture and cost
Processed foods aren’t going away, but they are evolving
In the gap between consumers’ intention and reality, is there room for processed food in a healthy diet?
Why coffee is make-or-break for alt dairy
To appeal to coffee aficionados, alt dairy brands must prove barista-level functionality, compete on taste and flavour innovation, and look beyond sustainability
Nestlé and Danone: Baby food pouches under fire as microplastics found
Microplastics detected in Nestlé and Danone baby food pouches spark safety concerns
Why packaging decisions can’t be left to the last minute
Packaging isn’t just a container, it’s a decision that affects cost, brand, sustainability and compliance, so it should be planned early, not tacked on later
How connected packaging is closing the private label gap
The package is now the platform
The most creative beverage packaging innovations
Looking for beverage packaging inspiration? We explore some of the most innovative ideas from across the beverage universe
Why thinking like an AI agent matters to marketing
Generative engine optimization is reshaping how brands get discovered
From cereulide to botulism: Exposing the fault lines in infant nutrition safety
From recalled product remaining on shelves to weak marketing guidance, regulatory gaps across infant nutrition remain stark
Horizon Organic plays down impact of multi-state milk recall
The largest US organic dairy brand pulled thousands of flavoured milk cases across four states
Strategies to decarbonize the supply chain
Partnerships to cut methane emissions from rice offer a blueprint for reaching Scope 3 goals across the food system and underscore the importance of pre-competitive partnership across the supply chain
News Bites
GLP‑1 nutrition, Nestlé’s reset and the rising reformulation crunch
Food companies are being pushed to rethink everything from product design to portfolio strategy and ingredient standards
Beyond chatbots: How agentic AI can boost productivity and decision-making in food
More autonomous, flexible forms of AI are being rolled out by the biggest names in the business, from Nestlé to Danone
