Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

20th September 2023

Coffee, tea, and yaupon: Energy drink brands experiment with caffeine sources

Drinks brands are exploring new types, blends, and sources of caffeine to support and optimise brain performance and cognitive function. We look at some recent product launches from Buzz Lite, White Wolf Nutrition, and My Wellness Mushroom.

20th September 2023

UK meat consumption drops due to cost-of-living crisis

Squeezed incomes and record inflation means UK consumers are eating less meat, creating potential for affordable meat-free and vegetable-forward launches.

20th September 2023

Manufacturers await groundbreaking aspartame safety review

The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is preparing to release its findings on whether the sweetener aspartame is a possible carcinogen.

20th September 2023

Familiarity over foodtech: Is this the end of disruptive product development?

Consumers are opting for traditional product purchases over disruptive, novel launches amid growing inflation, according to a Rabobank report.

20th September 2023

EUFIC backs plant-based but warns consumers to check nutrition content

The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) has shared tips to follow a healthy and sustainable diet, and has highlighted plant-based products – but consumers should be wary of potentially high levels of salt and saturated fats, it says.

20th September 2023

Coffee innovation centres on value, flavour, and sustainability

Innovation in the coffee category is exploding, with brands experimenting with flavour profiles in ready-to-drink (RTD) products, novel packaging formats, and unique brewing processes.

20th September 2023

Meal kits are on the rise globally, says Euromonitor

Demand for meal kits is growing globally, according to Euromonitor, with some brands offering affordable options and others developing more premium, personalised products.

20th September 2023

Breakthrough buckwheat brands promote brain health claims

As buckwheat emerges as a superfood ingredient on the plant-based scene, attention is turning to its brain health claims and the research behind buckwheat’s ability to enhance cognitive function.

20th September 2023

German supermarket trials climate-centric pricing model

German discount supermarket Penny has trialled increasing product prices to mirror their health and environmental costs.

20th September 2023

USDA progresses project to assess ‘raised with antibiotics’ market

Consumers and the wider food industry are asking for greater transparency and accountability in placing antibiotics claims on animal-based products.

In recent weeks, several big players and legislative shifts have shaken the manufacturing industry with calls for better antibiotics claims management.

On 14 June, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that its Agricultural Research Service (ARS) would partner with the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to conduct a n

20th September 2023

How healthy are plant-based drinks in China?

Researchers studying the nutritional content of plant-based protein drinks recommend consumers closely observe nutrition facts and ingredient information.

20th September 2023

Food safety body strongly against EU glyphosate reapproval

As the European Union (EU) considers the potential reapproval of the common pesticide glyphosate in the food manufacturing space, Safe Food Advocacy Europe (SAFE) confirms its opposition to the move.

20th September 2023

Healthy acquisition: Mars buys keto and paleo brand

US-based global manufacturer Mars has acquired healthy keto and paleo meal brand Kevin’s Natural Foods, whose products include healthy sous-vide meals, sides, and sauces.

In July 2023, multinational manufacturer Mars announced it has signed an agreement to purchase the health brand Kevin’s Natural Foods, which offers keto and paleo-certified products and dairy, gluten, and soy-free items.

“We are thrilled about joining Mars Food & Nutrition, as it opens new opportunities to reach a broader aud

20th September 2023

EPR fee delay spurs concerns over UK’s sustainability commitment

The UK government’s decision to push back the introduction of fees for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) due to inflation has raised doubts about whether this sustainability commitment will ever be realised.

20th September 2023

JECFA expert committee reconfirms aspartame safety at approved levels

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has found “limited evidence” that aspartame is a possible carcinogenic, yet the sweetener has received a classification of “possibly carcinogenic”.

20th September 2023

Catering to the ‘new’ Vietnamese consumer

Vietnam’s food industry is evolving to meet the needs of “the new face of the Vietnamese consumer” after shifts in consumer class, demographics, and digitalisation, says McKinsey.

20th September 2023

Rainforest Alliance praises Nescafé for regenerative agriculture efforts

Instant coffee brand Nescafé is supporting coffee farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices, according to a recent supply chain assessment by Rainforest Alliance that highlighted “encouraging trends”.

On 6th June 2023, the Nestlé-owned coffee company released its Nescafé Plan 2030 Progress Report, detailing its progress towards its sustainability goals. The results indicate that farmers are gradually adopting regenerative agricultural practices and improving yields. Regenerative agri

20th September 2023

Are Dutch supermarkets committed to human rights?

Superlist Social, a multi-year research project that gathers insights on how supermarkets help their customers eat healthy, sustainable and fair food, has released its Superlist Social 2023 report.

20th September 2023

UK consumer trust in supermarkets falls to nine-year-low

Research by UK consumer review organisation, Which?, reports decreasing levels of trust in the food industry, with two-thirds of shoppers feeling ripped off.

Trust in food has dropped to its lowest level in almost a decade, research by Which?, the UK’s self-proclaimed “consumer champion”, details, following its monthly consumer insight tracker.

Which? is urging supermarkets and convenience stores to stock budget varieties of food products to ease the financial burden on consumers, especially a

20th September 2023

US and Philippines team up to tackle food security

The US and Philippines have agreed on joint actions to mitigate climate change and its impact on our future food system, including through investments in agtech and biotechnology.