Due to informality, lack of contracts, lack of unionisation and low awareness of workers’ rights, many banana workers do not earn a living wage. A range of UK retailers, including Sainbsury’s, aim to challenge this.
Palm oil is cheap to produce in large quantities but unsustainable production methods, notably deforestation, means the bad can far outweigh the good. As a result, brands are increasingly distancing themselves from the use of irresponsible palm oil in...
With a growing Muslim middle class in countries such as the UK, and even many non-Muslims increasingly buying halal products, halal certification is more important than ever for businesses selling them.
Insects are not only thought to contain at least as much protein as conventional meat, but are also more environmentally sustainable. However, their novelty on the market poses challenges in consumer acceptance. How do start-ups persuade consumers to...
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced that plans to cut pesticide use across the European Union have been dropped but environmentalists say the battle is far from over.
In the European Commission’s final text published this week, any mention of methane reduction has been omitted. So have links between dietary patterns and GHG emissions, critics lament.
Ingredients supplier ofi is setting the ambitious target of reducing supply chain carbon emissions for its coffee by 30% by 2030. So how will this be achieved and can other coffee manufacturers follow in their footsteps?
Gluten-free substitutes such as rice and corn flour have for decades aimed to take the role of wheat flour in baked goods, so that those with coeliac disease can consume them. Now there is a new substitute: wheat flour itself.
The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), the first stage of which came into force on 31 January, will have a significant impact on how the EU trades with Great Britain. Over three stages throughout 2024, new checks and declarations will be required for...
From confectionery to cakes, breakfast cereals to beer, sugar is a huge part of the modern diet, but why is the cost of one of our most indulgent ingredients increasing and how will this affect both food manufacturers and consumers?
Could plant-based meat products be made more sustainably? Research trialling a ‘revolutionary’ concept that shortens supply chains and promotes plant protein diversity has received EU support.
Food quality technology plays a vital role both in ensuring that food is safe to eat, therefore reducing food waste, and providing insights around its health and composition. Three European start-ups tell FoodNavigator how technology can help them understand...
Despite common public understanding that the word ‘vegan’ means free from animal products, there is no legally binding definition for the term in the UK and EU. This means that products labelled ‘vegan’ can contain trace amounts of eggs or dairy. Furthermore,...
World Health Organization partners with Resolve to Save Lives to recognise countries working to remove industrially produced trans fat from their national food supplies.
Cultivated meat needs growth factors in order for its cells to grow. These are usually added to the cell culture media at considerable expense, impacting potential for commercialisation. New research, however, has shown that edited bovine cells can produce...
With climate change exacerbating water stress and scarcity, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is backing new tech solutions to help future-proof the beverage industry.
In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have a range of bread made with regenerative agriculture-derived flour. We also have desserts, Valentine's Day doughnuts, a new range of fully loaded brownie tray bakes, and a new version of that classic...
Research revealing bees’ ability to synthesise specific nutrients, to support the colonisation of their gut bacteria, offers insights into the symbiotic relationship they have with their gut microbiota. But changes to their habitat is placing this delicate...
Mushrooms have a very short shelf life. But with a range of MAP packaging specially designed to keep out moisture, a packaging company has managed to extend it from a few days to over two weeks.
Cacao fruit, or cocoa fruit, is drawn from the same pod as cocoa beans. Normally thrown away, the juice, pulp and peel of the pod can be used as a sweetener in a range of products. Across Europe and beyond, cacao fruit has appeared recently in a range...
Despite some progress being made, price parity between meat and plant-based meat products has still not been achieved everywhere. Price remains a key consumer concern when it comes to plant-based meat. But why do plant-based meat producers struggle to...
Austrian start-up Revo Foods is well known for its 3D-printed fish and meat whole cuts. Now, it has announced technology that can work continuously and produce a variety of products simultaneously, introducing significant flexibility into the production...
December 30, 2024 marks the day by which supply chain stakeholders, including producers, importers, manufacturers, brands, and retailers within the European Union must ensure they are selling, importing and exporting EUDR compliant cocoa, coffee, palm...
Eel meat is unlike any other: it is fatty, tender, and ‘almost melts in your mouth’, explains Roee Nir, co-founder and CEO of Forsea Foods. The start-up is working to mimic these attributes with stem cells in a lab.
Rice is one of the most important crops in sub-Saharan Africa. However, it is particularly at risk from disease. A new study has found that CRISPR technology can be used to edit genes in some strains of rice, developing resistance.
Colour is an important part of what appeals to consumers about food, making it stand out on the shelf and enhancing the perception of taste. Food colourants, therefore, have a vital job to do. Fermentation, which can produce vegan, kosher and halal colourants...
Off the back of shifting political landscapes, evolving biotech-led categories and regulatory changes in 2023, we look at how these influence food additives in 2024 and what further changes we can expect to see.
In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have KitKat's new 70% dark chocolate, which will run for a limited time in the UK. We also have a new cocktail range released in paper bottles and an exciting new investment for Italian food brand Crosta...
Microplastics, which research suggests could be harmful to human health, are well-known infiltrators of a wide variety of food and beverages. Now, researchers have found that nanoplastics, the even smaller offspring of microplastics, are present in stratospheric...
Finnish biotech start-up Enifer will open its first factory in order to develop its mycoprotein ingredient, following its receiving of €12m in funding. To develop these ingredients, it will use PEKILO fermentation, a process developed in the 1970s by...
European producers in 2024 will focus on informing consumers about processed and ultra-processed foods and drinks, potentially lowering content in formulations to encourage plant-based meat or dairy alternatives uptake.
Ahead of the European elections in June 2024, The European Liaison Committee for Agricultural and Agrifood Trade (CELCAA) calls for better integration of agrifood trade interests in EU policy.
Agrifood research recognises Europe’s efforts to boost supply chain traceability with robust regulations and technological advancements, yet more can be done to enhance its capabilities.
As we leave behind a troublesome 2023, we reflect on some of the unforeseen challenges faced by ingredients companies. From supply chain disruptions to cost-of-living pressures, how have suppliers changed tact to meet manufacturers’ demands?
Crop diversification is an important part of achieving nutrition security; the risks of reliance on a single crop are immense. Sub-Saharan Africa, suggests a new study in Nature Food, must diversify its crops to achieve food security by mid-century.
Regulatory compliance can be one of the most time-consuming and cost-intensive parts of running any business, and the food industry, with its myriad complex supply chains and novel products, is no different. Technology, however, can streamline this process.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tracing will shine an even brighter spotlight on efficiency and transparency in 2024 to protect the future of food.
At Food Ingredients Europe this year, the ‘Plant-based Innovation Award’ went to MirrorTissue, a plant-based ‘fatty lipid solution’. Here the producers discuss their triumph
A more granular approach to regenerative agriculture that considers farmer's experience and the local landscape will help drive positive outcomes for people, nature and climate says Regen10
The European Commission (EC) will allocate €185.9 million to promote expansion activities for sustainable and high-quality European Union (EU) agrifood products around the globe in 2024.
Food and farming organisations including CLEAR and its member organisations, Sustainable Food Trust and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), have raised concerns regarding newly released eco-labelling guidelines from the IGD, which have recently been delivered...
Sucafina and CEE have partnered to develop a continuous sustainable coffee roasting plant, which is powered by green energy and, according to them, has a significantly higher energy efficiency rate than the industry standard.
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic debris which are often found in food. When consumed, they can lead to negative health effects. A recent study has developed a way to use artificial intelligence to help find microplastics more efficiently, which...
