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
Regulation
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
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
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)
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.
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
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
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
The coming UPF regulation revolution
The regulatory landscape surrounding ultra-processed foods is changing rapidly. Here’s what has already happened, what’s coming next and why manufacturers should be paying attention
Danone’s Chobani lawsuit proves why protein claims are high stakes
Chobani and Danone’s court face-off demonstrates how fierce the battle in the ultra-high protein category has become
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
Former Nestlé CEO in legal dispute with Swiss food giant following sacking
Former Nestlé chief executive officer, Laurent Freixe, is challenging his dismissal in a dispute over lost bonuses and shares
Nutri-Score in the dock: Why Lactalis is taking it to court
The front-of-pack labelling scheme is facing a legal challenge over its algorithm changes
Opinion
Nestlé’s Dairy Plan is strong on disclosure but weak on detail
Disclosing emissions data is crucial for transparency and accountability, but companies like Nestlé must do more to show what’s behind the data
Federal court blocks food benefits ban on soda and candy
The decision in Aragon v. Rollins vacates USDA waivers in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia and sets up a likely appeal
A decade of Brexit: 10 major impacts on F&B
It’s a decade since the UK’s historic vote to leave the European Union – and the results are mixed
British EUDR? UK government to introduce anti-deforestation rules
The proposal will affect imports from around the world, including coffee, cocoa, soy and palm oil
EU’s new gene-editing rules open the door for CRISPR
Under a new two-tier system, some gene-edited crops will face simplified regulation
The state of fermentation and cultivated ingredients: Where are we now?
Fermentation finds its footing even as food-tech funding cools
Startups producing colors, proteins, sweeteners and specialty ingredients through fermentation are attracting investment, regulatory approvals and commercial partnerships as manufacturers seek alternatives to constrained conventional supply chains
Letter from the editor
Alternative agriculture’s next chapter: fermentation and cultivation
From precision fermentation and cultivated proteins to next-generation ingredients, food-tech innovators are advancing sustainable production despite funding pressures, scale-up challenges and evolving consumer demand
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
The ‘Uh-Oh SpaghettiOs’ lawsuit vs the court of public opinion
As online commentators dissect everything from sterilisation processes to consumer behaviour, the dispute offers a glimpse into how food safety claims are increasingly judged in the digital age
Kennedy signals new course for food labels as FDA nears definition for ultra-processed food
A forthcoming federal definition for ultra-processed foods could influence front-of-pack nutrition labeling requirements, product reformulation efforts and compliance timelines across the food industry
Iran-US peace deal: What it means for food
The deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
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