Ingredients

Letter From The Editor

FN+Beyond the ballot: How US politics will reshape food and beverage

From grocery affordability and corporate pricing scrutiny to consumer trust, food policy and international trade, the US midterm elections could have far-reaching consequences for food and beverage businesses at home and abroad

When food trade crosses cultures: US Eggs in Asia

We feature eggs as the first of this mini series, exploring what global trade reveals about the different cultural meanings and expectations attached to food

Just Ice Tea takes on energy drink segment with high-caffeine tea

CEO Seth Goldman aims to pull struggling ready-to-drink tea segment out of its slump with Awaken

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

FN+Biomanufacturing promises to transform food production, but when will it deliver?

From cultivated meat and plant cell culture to precision fermentation, food innovators are rethinking how ingredients are made. But scaling production, lowering costs, securing regulatory approval and winning customers will determine whether...

FN+5 ingredients that could become food’s next supply-chain headache

Climate change, disease and demand surges are creating new ingredient vulnerabilities

FN+How are GLP-1 users redefining indulgence?

As use of weight-loss medications grows, research points to changing consumer preferences and spending patterns, creating opportunities for food brands to rethink indulgence with healthier ingredients, new formats and better-for-you benefits

News Bites

What comes next for reformulation, UPFs and retail?

This month’s stories highlighted food policy that may provide more flexibility for manufacturers, the UPF debate and how digital commerce is shaping one of the biggest CPG brands

APAC Agri-food Innovation Summit 2026

FN+From cultivated beef to fermented soy: Bezos-backed protein innovators target cost and scale

Cultivated beef pioneer Aleph Farms and Singapore’s Mottainai Food Tech have each secured funding through the 2026 Sustainable Protein Growth Stage Grant, as the alternative protein sector shifts its attention from technological possibility to scale

New cocoa powder alternative targets GLP-1 trends and supply risks

Planet A Foods’ Cocoa Booster can replace up to 100% of cocoa powder in select applications, as manufacturers face cocoa price volatility and changing consumer demand amid rising GLP-1 use

WK Kellogg bets on nutrition and schools to revitalize cereal

As cereal sales come under pressure, the company is reformulating iconic brands with more protein and fiber and less sugar while introducing school-focused products designed to win over the next generation of eaters

FN+Kraft Heinz, Gerber, Once Upon a Farm are pouring into kids’ hydration

While experts say water is enough to hydrate healthy kids, brands are capturing caregivers’ preferences for better-for-you hydration products that deliver on function, flavor and natural ingredients

FN+UPF labeling could cost $14.2bn annually, study estimates

A University of Chicago-affiliated analysis estimates mandatory ultra-processed food labeling could affect 72% of packaged food products, while the Consumer Brands Association warns of additional costs, potential litigation and uncertain public-health...

FN+UPF classification doesn’t tell the whole story about nutrition, study reveals

Analysis by IFIC and NIQ of more than 40,000 US grocery products finds nutrient density varies widely among ultra-processed foods, raising questions about the relationship between processing, nutritional quality and affordability

FN+4 strategies Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Spindrift and others are using to revitalize RTD tea

As US bottled and canned tea sales struggle, Coca-Cola’s reformulated Gold Peak Zero Sugar tea and new launches from PepsiCo, Ryl Tea, Spindrift and others show how brands are reigniting demand for ready-to-drink tea

Letter From The Editor

Dairy’s fight for growth and shelf space

From high-protein products and café-inspired creamers to AI-powered market insights, dairy brands are finding new ways to meet consumer demand and win shelf space

Dairy Innovation

Creamers move beyond coffee with flavors, cold foams and café-inspired experiences

The rise of coffeehouse culture, viral beverage trends and cold coffee is fueling demand for creamers that offer more than just a splash of dairy

Dairy Innovations

Can plant proteins help ease the whey squeeze?

Surging protein demand and tight whey supplies are driving interest in hybrid formulations, with ADM and other suppliers developing plant-based ingredients to help manufacturers balance nutrition, functionality and texture

Dairy Innovations

New data platform reveals opportunities for dairy milk to win back shelf space

MilkPEP’s free, AI-powered market intelligence platform Milkscape gives milk processors and retailers access to consumer trends, sales data and insights to identify growth opportunities, drive innovation and boost milk sales

Dairy Innovations

As consumers rethink fat, whole milk gets a second look

Protein, satiety and whole foods drive renewed interest in full-fat dairy

FN+Insect protein: What went wrong?

The sector has struggled from the beginning. But can it reinvent itself?

FN+Can GLP-1 innovation benefit all consumers?

The same protein-, fiber- and nutrient-dense formulations designed for GLP-1 users could help brands meet broader consumer demand for functional, value-driven foods

Fizz, ferment and fire: What’s next in flavour

Global is the theme for the foods and flavours that are set to define 2027

Less is more for food brands trying to meet modern shoppers’ health & safety needs

New research suggests familiar ingredients, minimal processing and shorter ingredient lists could give food brands an opportunity to capture a premium

FDA eases salt-substitute rules amid MAHA push for healthier foods

The final rule gives food and beverage manufacturers greater flexibility to reduce sodium in products ranging from bread rolls and canned tuna to salad dressing and cheese, supporting FDA’s broader sodium-reduction goals

Creatine as a food ingredient remains popular with steady stream of new products

The ingredient once known as a sports nutrition supplement is increasingly making its way into food and beverage

Could conflict in Ethiopia threaten coffee?

Ethiopia, one of the world’s largest coffee producers, is once again in conflict

What is the best way to talk to organic shoppers?

New Organic Trade Association research explores how Gen Z and millennial shoppers respond to organic messaging and what marketers may be overlooking as the category looks to its next phase of growth

Could PepsiCo’s snack turnaround offer a blueprint for its struggling beverage business?

As pricing changes, portfolio innovation and renewed investment help revive North American snack volumes, CEO Ramon Laguarta is looking to improve soft-drink performance through increased marketing, focused innovation and stronger execution

FN+McCormick-Unilever deal clears US antitrust hurdle as UK review deadline looms            

The FTC granted early termination of its US antitrust waiting period, while the UK’s CMA continues its Phase 1 review and Sen. Elizabeth Warren calls for closer scrutiny of major food-industry mergers

FN+Lost confidence in nutrition information offers CPG makers opening to rebuild trust

The latest IFIC Food & Health Survey finds consumers increasingly unsure what, or whom, to believe as self-assessed health declines, but also points to a path for food companies to rebuild trust with credible facts, practical guidance and scientific evidence

Lumina Intelligence insight

FN+Exclusive study reveals consumers want capability not immortality

Exclusive global consumer research reveals that ageing well is no longer about adding years to life, but maintaining the strength, mobility and independence to keep living on your own terms

Renewed call for raw dairy ban amid H5N1 concerns

Unpasteurised milk, cheese and other raw dairy products are unsafe to consume and may be linked to the spread of avian influenza, updated guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has said.

From Kyoho grape to pickle: Why beverage brands are taking more risks with flavour

Step aside, orange and cola – global fruits, unusual botanicals and unexpected combinations are pushing beverage innovation beyond the familiar

FN+California’s UPF label raises a bigger question: What is a UPF?

A harmonized UPF definition requires more than a list of ingredients or processing methods

The future of food innovation lies in diversifying, not replacing, supply chains

From palm oil to dairy fat, food companies seek new supply chain options

FN+Mondelēz reveals the trends shaping the future of confectionery and snacking

What does the future hold for confectionery and snacking? Richie Gray of Mondelēz SnackFutures shares his thoughts on the trends and technologies shaping the sector

Hy-Vee looks to emerging food brands for a competitive edge

The Midwest grocer is pairing price matching with a supplier pitch program designed to bring health-focused products to shelves faster

News Bites

Big Food’s moves on climate, nutrition and tech

Food companies, policymakers and researchers reshape the conversation around food production and processing, as business strategies are evolving alongside them

FN+3 underestimated sustainability risks to global food supply

Climate change is often at the centre of the sustainability discussion, but these overlooked risks could impact global food supply chains much faster and further than many expect

FN+California signs voluntary non-UPF label into law

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing of AB 2244 into law creates the first state-backed, voluntary label for non-UPF qualifying products, amid a pending federal UPF definition

Mondelēz sustainability scheme goes solo: Is this the new industry standard?

Harmony project enters a new era as it becomes an independent certification. But, could it become the new industry standard?

Can nature save cocoa? Industry’s response to a supply crisis

Two years after researchers found that working with nature could boost cocoa yields by up to 20%, we ask whether biodiversity-led farming is becoming a reality across the global cocoa industry or remaining an unrealised promise

5 clues to the future of grocery in Whole Foods’ latest LEAP Cohort

From culturally specific flavors to functional foods that don’t look like supplements, the 10 brands selected for Whole Foods’ 2026 accelerator offer a window into where the retailer sees opportunity

Nestlé teams with dairy supply chain partners to map path to scaling regen ag

From farmer incentives to peer networks and shared program designs, industry players are testing ways to move beyond one-off initiatives

Why Oatly is going big on fibre

Unlike protein, fibre plays more naturally to oatmilk’s strengths

PepsiCo’s push to stop innovation dying in the field

PepsiCo’s Rob Meyers explains why promising agricultural technologies fail to reach scale and what manufacturers can do to help growers turn ideas into action

FN+Big Food warns growing scrutiny of ultra-processed foods could hit sales and costs

Campbell’s, PepsiCo, Conagra, Kraft Heinz and JM Smucker flag regulatory, consumer and litigation risks as debate over UPFs intensifies

Aldi lowers fall food prices despite cost pressures ahead

The discount grocer doubles down on value as retailers warn inflation pressures may return

Protein, coffee and convenience drive Chobani’s next phase of expansion

Health and wellness trends have galvanised demand for nutrient-rich foods, supporting sales expansion across key dairy categories. US Greek yogurt major Chobani is taking note

Supply chain pressures are testing dairy’s resilience

Dairy is one of the most mean-reverting markets in agriculture but geopolitical and environmental pressures are threatening its usual cyclicality