Journalism Portfolio - Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Hi, I’m Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe, and I love words.

I have been working as a freelance journalist for more than a decade and have a wide range of experience in writing on many topics. These include beauty, food and drink, the environment, technology, health and legal/the law.

I have written for a variety of publications such as Ingredients Network, FI global and Cosmetics Design as well as producing content for webpages and press releases for brands and businesses. My work has been well received, with great reviews from both readers and clients.

I am passionate about producing quality content that is both informative and engaging. If you are looking for someone experienced in writing articles, press releases or web content, please get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you!

Listening to them, learning new ones, putting the perfect ones down on page to make that sentence just right, and whizzing them around again until they’re just so.

And of course, nattering words to chat, relate, put the world to rights, ask questions, and generally find out more about the world and us in it.

On this site you will find my latest published articles.

You can email me at natasha@natashaspencer.co.uk or find out more information about me on my website natashaspencerjolliffe.co.uk

Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Here are my latest published articles

US introduces Food Labeling Modernization Act

Amid calls for better food integrity and safety, the US Congress has proposed a bill for clearer nutritional information and accurate labelling claims. On 26 April 2023, the US introduced the Food Labeling Modernization Act (FLMA), proposing to mandate updated requirements for labelling on food packaging. The newly-announced bill aims to provide clearer nutritional information and help minimise misleading marketing claims by updating food labels to reflect today’s requirements. Access to accu
Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly •

Climate Anxiety and Eco-Grief: How Climate Change Hurts Global Mental Health

How interlinked are climate change and mental health? Very, an increasing body of research suggests, prompting questions about how we can tackle the nexus of two of the greatest crises of our times. “We need to recognize that the climate crisis is the greatest public-health threat we face, and the mental health dimensions…are part of this larger set of health impacts,” says Gary Cohen, cofounder and president of Health Care Without Harm, a US-based organization that supports environmentally res
The Earth & I •

Carbon Farming and Climate Change: Taking from the Atmosphere and Giving to the Soil

Combatting climate change means reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). A promising path to that goal is a practice called carbon farming, which aims to sequester carbon from the atmosphere into the soil and vegetation. Farmers and agriculturists bolster their traditional operations with new carbon-centric practices, such as reducing tillage and planting cover crops, to keep carbon trapped in soil and improve soil health. According to the Carbon Cycle Institute, a California environmental or

AgroScout uses AI to remotely protect global crops | Greenbiz

Smart climate agriculture is a crucial part of the climate tech sector in 2023. To this end, Israeli climate tech company AgroScout has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that places climate and crop management directly into the hands of food processing companies, farm managers and farmers. And the time for accessible, autonomous crop management is now. Agricultural development has been identified as one of the most powerful tools available to stop extreme poverty and improve glob
Pharmaceutical Technology •

Perimenopause: Tackling the dearth of treatments for anxiety and depression

Due to a growing body of research, the connection between mental health and perimenopause is becoming clearer, namely its impact on mood and the onset of depression and anxiety. However, despite focused efforts in scientific research, this connection is still largely unexplored in the pharmaceutical space. Perimenopause refers to the stage of menopausal transition when an irregularity in the menstrual cycle symptoms may arise before the last menstrual bleed. Medical interventions typically reco
Pharmaceutical Technology •

The one-shot cervical cancer vaccine paradigm

On December 20, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its recommendations for cervical cancer vaccines in a bid to boost vaccination coverage. The WHO now says that a one-dose schedule for girls ages 9–14 years adequately protects against human papillomavirus (HPV), and more specifically, the HPV 16 and HPV 18 strains. The insights and amendments came following findings from a meeting held by WHO’s independent expert advisory group in April 2022. Several cervical cancer vaccines ar
Medical Device Network •

Cervical cancer technologies emerge to support screening

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in people with a cervix, and in 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated there were over 500,000 cases, representing approximately 6.6% of all female cancers. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 14,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer yearly in the US alone, and more than 4,000 women die from it. Due to the high incidence of cervical cancer, the WHO has highlighted an urgent need for effective screening programmes.
The Earth & I •

‘Looking Outside’ and ‘Days of Rest’—How Filipino Youth Used Religious Traditions to Cope with COVID

Following the initial global outbreak of COVID-19, the Philippines government responded by initiating some of the world’s most stringent lockdown measures. Under its highest-tiered lockdown, the country introduced Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), which required residents to stay indoors unless they had a “quarantine pass” that permitted them to go shopping or conduct other urgent business. Schools and churches closed, and in-person and group meetings of faith were prohibited. As a result,
figlobal.com •

Will sustainable insect protein ever achieve mainstream popularity?

Protein continues to grow in popularity as a vital ingredient in the global food industry. With the world accelerating toward new and sustainable food, shoppers are seeking alternative protein sources. As novel eating experiences resonate with global consumers, insects are featuring as a new source of protein and garnering a reputation as an effective ingredient in high-protein foods. However, overcoming consumer resistance and developing at a commercial scale are two leading issues facing inse
Pharmaceutical Technology •

Provention’s Tzield can delay type 1 diabetes. But will it reach all patients?

On November 17, 2022, the FDA approved Provention Bio’s Tzield (teplizumab), making it the first and only treatment to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Providing an early-treatment strategy allows people to manage a lifelong condition while maximizing their quality of life, and it is a potential first step to tackling inequity. However, without fair and equal access to testing for T1D, it is difficult for people to obtain a diagnosis and access treatment. The international T1D network
Pharmaceutical Technology •

Are we entering the era of biologics for COPD?

In 2023, the pharmaceutical industry will mark 20 years since Xolair, an anti-IgE antibody, became the first biologic approved to treat asthma. Since then, the US FDA, EMA, and other agencies have approved several biologic antibodies targeting the inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-13, IL-5, and others for asthma. Approaches like bronchodilator inhalers focus on treating both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The same, however, is not true for therapeutic biologics. While th
bakeryandsnacks.com •

New dietary fibre insights drive nutritional and health launches

The dietary fibre market has grown in recent years, with food manufacturers looking for healthy ingredients to improve the nutritional value of their products. Increasing consumer consciousness towards the health benefits of baked goods and snacks is driving the demand for dietary fibre. “The gap between consumption and recommended fibres intake is undoubtedly a public health issue,”​ said Anne Lionnet, business developer in charge of LifyWheat’s European development at Limagrain Ingredients.
bakeryandsnacks.com •

Will protein be the next mega-trend in 2023?

Today’s protein consumers are demanding protein alternatives and attractive sensorial experiences. But with existing obstacles revolving around how to achieve favourable volume, texture and machinability to meet consumer expectations, protein has yet to reach mega-trend status. However, with the adoption of new processes and product developments, the question now is whether it will signify a change for protein in 2023. Proteins remain a critical ingredient in the global food industry. With the
bakeryandsnacks.com •

Preparing for acrylamide regulation updates in 2023

With changes to acrylamide regulation taking shape in 2023 - as reported in BakeryandSnacks -​ ​manufacturers now edge closer to renewed legislation. As a result, we can expect to see new or reformulated product developments that reflect the legislative updates. Acrylamide is found in various foods, including baked goods and snacks. The chemical substance comes from the naturally present substances of free asparagine (amino acids) and sugars. Acrylamide forms from cooking processes, such as bak
bakeryandsnacks.com •

The story of wheat features resilience as its main character

Wheat-wise, baked goods and snack brands expect to see rising demand for more whole grain products over commercialised white flour, with manufacturers anticipating increased calls for heritage grain products worldwide. Health and nutrition are the leading factors driving consumers toward whole grain varieties over their white flour counterparts. Manufacturers are witnessing a growing number of consumers asking about the wheat’s provenance, how it impacts farmers and its required farming practic
Medical Device Network •

Fertility tech in 2023: At-home, personalisation and accessibility

Since the first baby conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) was born in 1978, more than 8 million people globally have been born using the technology. While IVF success rates have improved since it was first introduced, currently, only about a third of patients have a successful live birth. “For patients, assisted reproduction is prohibitively expensive, often requires multiple attempts, is physically and emotionally onerous, and is still rarely covered by insurance,” relays Paxton Maed
bakeryandsnacks.com •

The EU prepares to overhaul packaging and waste rules

On 30 November 2022, the European Commission released its final proposal for an updated packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWD),​ ​amending the European Union’s (EU) 2019/2020 regulation and 2019 directive. If adopted, the proposed revision will expedite the EU’s goal to make all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030 and strive to help it reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Differing regulatory approaches across Member States create challenges for countries within Europe to har
bakeryandsnacks.com •

Renewed calls for urgent cost-of-living crisis support a priority in 2023

The cost-of-living crisis continues to dominate the concerns of those working in, and representing, the bakery and snack sectors. According to Alasdair Smith, CEO of the Scottish Bakers, “Soaring energy costs and rising ingredient bills coupled with the ongoing recruitment and retention troubles we face make the price of doing business harder than it has ever been.”​ The Association previously brought attention to the reality that bakers in Scotland, and it suspects in England too, are facing
The Earth & I •

North America Rebuilds Its Bison Biome

The iconic North American buffalo, which fell to near-extinction levels in the 1880s, is now flourishing, thanks to concerted conservation efforts. While bison have long been known as a sustainable food and income source, they are now being shown to be an essential part of a prairie ecosystem. In fact, reintroducing bison to a Great Plains tallgrass prairie ecosystem in the US nearly doubled plant diversity there, says a new study led by Kansas State University (KSU) researchers. The researche
Medical Device Network •

How advancing tech has shaped mental health in 2022

The mental health landscape has welcomed discoveries, launches and experiences that showcase immersive technologies. Research, innovations and campaigns that explore the relationship between advancing technologies and mental health have come to the fore in 2022. As a result, we have seen sophisticated and ever-evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and gaming positioned as an effective tool to support holistic healthcare. Consumers want to access mental
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