Sustainable September
Sustainability isn’t going away: and neither is cattle farming
Regulatory priorities may be shifting but climate risks, investor trust and consumer demand make industry action non-negotiable
Policy & legislation
Could grapevines hold the key to creating biodegradable packaging?
Old grapevine canes could be converted into a plastic-like film that is stronger than traditional plastic and decomposes quickly
Why CPGs are back-sliding on sustainability – and why it matters
The food industry made bold promises – on health, on sustainability, on transparency. But now, under pressure, many of those pledges are quietly being shelved. Editor-in-chief Jess Spiring exposes the rollback and explores what this retreat means for the...
Does Trump’s America First trade policy put domestic CPG production second?
The Consumer Brands Association warns that unless the Trump administration ‘fine-tunes’ its trade policy and if it reinstates reciprocal tariffs on July 9 it would de facto pick ‘winners and losers’ among domestic producers with packaged goods...
South Korea pushes food safety, export strategy in Latin America
South Korea has set its sights on Latin America for food safety exchanges and export growth plans to support food trade
Food industry scrambles to respond to GLP-1 craze
The drugs have already been predicted to change the way we eat
GLP-1s linked to cases of illness and death
Widespread cases of acute pancreatitis have been linked to the drugs
Why was the Green Claims Directive withdrawn?
The anti-greenwashing legislation would have put significant administrative burden on food
FDA moves shaping US food so far in 2025
From AI-powered inspections to bold regulatory shifts on dyes and sugar, FDA has made waves in 2025. Here are the most impactful stories shaping the future of food regulation
Dairy farmer sues Trump administration
A Wisconsin-based farmer says USDA programs favor minority and female farmers, leaving him, a white male, at a disadvantage
Canada U-turns on supply management policy protection
A bill that would make Canada’s supply management policy non-negotiable in trade talks is quickly progressing through parliament
Global food fraud surges in 2025
Multiple sectors hit as industry struggles to contain threat
US Food Waste Pact debuts new frontline employee toolkit
A new food waste reduction toolkit from the US Food Waste Pact shows frontline workers how small improvements in their daily work can have an outsized impact
India’s FSSAI to tighten licensing rules for ‘high risk’ products
Firms producing infant nutrition, packaged drinking water, and other “high-risk” items must obtain either a State or Central License that involves stricter compliance requirements.
Truce reached after Mondelēz haunts GHOST with lawsuit
The snack giant accused the flavor collab kings of breach of contract. Now the two companies have come to an agreement, with GHOST eyeing “exciting new flavors”— sans Mondelēz.
Fairtrade given EU grant to aid EUDR compliance
The €1m grant will help small food businesses comply with the upcoming regulation
Nestlé’s big bet on ‘super premium’ baby formula
The food giant hopes its new infant formula will help power growth
How can food and beverage guard against geopolitical dangers?
Global conflict is placing food production in jeopardy. What can industry do to protect itself?
USDA approves first state SNAP waiver to ban ‘junk food’ – dozens could follow despite industry warnings of ‘disruptions’ and unintended consequences
It begins: USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins yesterday signed the first of what could be several state waivers restricting the use of government funds by low-income residents to buy select “junk” foods and beverages, such as soda and candy
Exclusive: FDA’s ‘no questions’ letter for TurtleTree’s LF+ could accelerate adoption of precision-fermented lactoferrin into everyday nutrition
FDA’s acknowledgement of the safety of LF+ in functional foods, beverages and supplements will encourage more companies to use the animal-free lactoferrin beyond the applications of its bovine counterpart, which due to limited availability and high price...
Spin, slump, SPOONS: Inside WK Kellogg’s make-or-break cereal play
Post-spin, WK Kellogg is making a bold play to redefine cereal as a health food. But can a marketing framework overcome falling sales, tariff pressures and consumer scepticism?
Founders' Fundamentals
Surviving tariffs: How CPG startups can prepare for whatever comes next
CPG founders must think on their feet to work around tariff-induced supply chain disruptions, collaborating with co-manufacturers and ingredient suppliers on innovative solutions to business obstacles
Big Interview
EFSA’s future: Executive director Bernhard Url reveals the vision
How will the European Food Safety Authority evolve to combat the world’s food and drink safety challenges?
Vegetable oil prices rise amid tariff chaos and climate pressures
Rapeseed, sunflower and palm oil have all been hit by volatility
US increases EU food inventories ahead of tariffs
Some US businesses have stockpiled EU food and drink in a bid to increase short-term stability
How Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs impact global dairy markets
From the EU to China, we round up how the US president’s latest round of trade tariffs is hitting dairy
Can RSPO certifications reduce efficiency?
A new study suggests that certifications may reduce palm oil coverage
Pricing pains: Japan government to set system for food price hikes
The Japanese government will establish a mechanism for food price hikes in an attempt to the limit the backlash when cost increases are passed on to consumers.
De-escalation: What EU tariff delay could mean for the global wine and spirits trade
The EU has delayed the introduction of retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey in the hope of de-escalating the trade war with the US
Trump’s proposed tariffs – and how they could affect the spirits industry
Tequila and Canadian whisky could be affected by the next round of tariffs
Company news
Grupo Nutresa reports 11% revenue growth, pledges $1.5bn to cocoa sustainability
Latin American food conglomerate Grupo Nutresa has launched a new sustainability programme to continue strengthening Colombia’s cocoa chain after posting revenues of $18.9 billion in 2023, representing a growth of 11% compared to the previous year.
Special report: Dominican Republic organic cocoa
YACAO’s organic cocoa becomes first in LATAM to be ROC-certified
Swiss subsidiary with a long history of sourcing its premium organic cocoa from Dominican Republic sees demand skyrocket as suppliers look to other regions for sustainable beans.
Amsterdam Cocoa Week
2023 Cacao of Excellence Awards winners celebrate the beauty of the bean during Amsterdam Cocoa Week
Along with the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting, Chocoa’s Cocoa Sustainability Conference, Amsterdam Cocoa Week was also the setting for the Cacao of Excellence awards, which recognize excellence in cacao cultivation while supporting and...
Sustainability
Mission accomplished: Luker Chocolate wraps up The Cacao Effect project
Luker Chocolate is celebrating the completion of The Cacao Effect, a five-year initiative that the company said positively impacted over 6,000 rural families in Colombia. The closing event was held on 24 November 2023 in Bogotá, Colombia, and showcased...
Deforestation: Lukewarm welcome for deal to protect Amazon
Eight South American countries have agreed for the first time to form an alliance aimed at reducing deforestation in the Amazon.
Sustainability
Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa brings together industry actors in a bid to tackle deforestation
A conference involving The Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, the Soy and Palm Oil Network and the Coffee Interest Group was recently held in Bern Switzerland to develop new tougher measures for the conservation of tropical forests.
Brazil’s Lula’s comeback cheered as new research claims ‘deforestation-free’ supply chain pledges have barely impacted forest clearance in Amazon
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidential election win in Brazil will make it easier for food and beverage companies to comply with their zero-deforestation commitments, it has been claimed.
Measuring and communicating sustainability: ‘The biggest challenge right now is the pace of change,’ says Ingredion VP
Sustainability has rapidly evolved from a check box exercise for many food companies to something that impacts decision making throughout the supply chain. But how are firms measuring sustainability, how reliable is industry data in this respect, and if...
If biomanufacturing is the next industrial revolution, what does that mean for food ingredients?
Will a large percentage of flavors, colors and sweeteners be made in bioreactors by 2050 or are the costs and challenges associated with precision fermentation technology such that it only makes sense to produce a handful of high-value ingredients in...
ECA Forum 2022
European Cocoa Forum calls for ‘crucial balance in food safety, sustainability, and socio-economic challenges’
The European Cocoa Forum, held recently in Rome, Italy, was marked by frank and open discussions on how best to safeguard and direct the future of the hugely important global of the cocoa sector, said Paul Davis, European Cocoa Association (ECA) president.
Searching for sustainable agri-food production in Brazil
The country is fighting back to improve its tarnished reputation in Europe.
Sustainability
HAPPi invests in future cocoa change-makers with Luker Chocolate
Oat m!lk chocolate brand, HAPPi, is teaming up with Luker Chocolate to create Kids for Nature, an exciting new project that aims to protect the remarkable wildlife of Colombia by educating the next generation to become guardians of their ecosystem.
Grupo Bimbo posts ‘exceptional’ Q2 performance, addresses challenging environment
The Mexican bakery giant reported a doubled second-quarter net profit and raised its sales and operating earnings outlook, citing strong demand from regions including the US and Europe.
‘Science always wins’: EU acceptance of palm oil possible, but will take time – expert panel
Palm oil acceptance in the European Union (EU) is not impossible if the industry engages in proper marketing based on scientific facts, with changes already being seen in some countries, according to a panel of experts.
Why former WWF sustainability expert joined JBS: ‘No other company has the leverage and capacity to drive sector-wide transformation’
JBS has set targets to stamp out deforestation in its supply chain and move to net zero emissions by 2040. Former World Wildlife Fund (WWF) sustainability expert Maurício S. Bauer tells us why he has decided to transition from the NGO sector and join the...
Global soy exporters adopt new measures to cut deforestation in Brazil’s Cerrado region
Six of the world’s largest food and agribusiness companies have developed a new method to tackle deforestation and grassland conversion for soy crops in Brazil’s biodiversity-rich Cerrado region, which neighbours the Amazon.
Bimbo celebrates decade-long inclusivity and looks to the road ahead
Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) has released its 2021 Diversity, Equity & Belonging report, highlighting its successes over the past 10 years, and laying out goals for the next three.
Deforestation: JBS unveils forest fire taskforce to protect 2.5 million hectares in Brazil
JBS is often accused of indirectly sourcing cattle from unscrupulous Brazilian farmers who have illegally started fires in order to clear large areas of land.
Processing
Brazil’s cocoa production bounces back after Covid problems
Brazil’s cocoa beans production continues its upward curve with the latest figures released this month showing grindings have already increased up to 5% in 2022.
The FoodNavigator Podcast: The battle to save the banana
Bananas are not doomed, say experts. But their survival depends largely on retailers and consumers being prepared to pay more for their bananas, and the sector exploring different varieties.