US man takes on big food firms with UPF lawsuit
A lawsuit against several food giants has been filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County which alleges they are developing UPFs to be addictive as possible.
Nutrition & Health
Food processing: What is it and how does it impact health?
With commentary from F&B industry figures, scientists and non-profits, Food Manufacture learns more about food processing and how the industry can work to improve health outcomes.
England’s cities trap population in junk food cycle
England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty highlights how the set-up of our cities have fuelled obesity rates and disease.
UPFs unpacked: Experts answer your burning questions
Our recent webinar ‘The Unintended Consequences of the UPF Trend’ sparked a flurry of questions. Here, we address those we didn’t have time to cover during the session.
Opinion: It’s important for policy not to ‘play catch up’ in face of obesity crisis
Mark Jones, partner and food and drink supply chain expert at law firm Gordons, examines the legislative track record around diet and obesity, and considers how legal tools can further influence this UK health crisis.
News
Healthy NPD deserves financial backing, FDF tells Gov
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has called on the UK Government to provide greater financial support for SMEs investing in healthier product innovation.
News
Hundreds gather at Westminster to pitch expansion of local food partnerships
More than 100 local food partnerships descended upon Westminster looking to convince the UK Government to support the establishment of funded and resourced food partnerships in every local authority, among several other asks.
News
Forever chemicals detection method developed at US university
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have discovered a new way to detect the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water.
News
Mindful Chef partners with ZOE on healthy recipe range
Recipe box manufacturer Mindful Chef has announced a new partnership with science and nutrition company ZOE.
News
Nomad boss calls for mandatory health labelling on food products
The CEO of Nomad Foods has called for ‘front of pack labelling’ that details the nutritional content of food and drink products to be made mandatory.
News
The biggest food and drink trends of 2024 so far
What are the top trends that have been guiding the food and drink sector during 2024? Food Manufacture takes a closer look.
News
Consumer confidence and spending trends
Savanta’s Q3 Consumer Compass 2024 report highlights where European consumers are tightening their wallets and what’s influencing their purchases when they do spend.
News
House of Lords health and obesity recommendations 2024
Following several evidence gathering sessions, the House of Lords has published a set of recommendations for the Government to address diet-related illness in the UK. Here’s an easy breakdown of the main takeaways.
News
MicroLub secures £3.5m for fat replacement technology
Food ingredients company MicroLub has completed a successful £3.5m funding round to support the next stage of development for its fat and oil replacement technology.
News
Food tech innovations take home more than €500k of investment
More than €500k of investment has been awarded to innovative food and drink technology projects at EIT Food’s its Accelerator Network Tech Validation Awards.
News
1,000 health professionals call on NHS trusts to adopt plant-based menus
More than 1,000 health professionals have signed a letter calling on NHS hospital trusts to adopt plant-based menus.
News
Ultra-processed foods increase diabetes risk, UCL researchers find
People that consume more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study has found.
News
Calories down by a quarter in 'typical' shopping basket since 2015, research finds
New data has revealed that a ‘typical’ shopping basket now contributes a quarter less calories to the British grocery market than it did in 2015.
News
Health claims influence young people more than older consumers
New research has found that health claims influence the food and beverage purchasing decisions of the majority of consumers, but are most likely to resonate with younger people.
Opinion
Opinion: We need a UPF tax
Mark Jones, food and drink lawyer and partner at law firm, Gordons LLP, offers his thoughts on why ultra processed foods tax is likely to be a 'Labour additive' and why that's a good thing.
News
What's up for grabs at the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2025?
Whether you're a start-up or an industry leader, the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards invite food and drink processors to showcase their capabilities and celebrate the efforts and achievements of their companies and teams. Here, we summarise each of...
News
Birmingham Food Council creates food security game
Birmingham Food Council has developed a game for food sector professionals, planners and policymakers to improve their understanding of how system shocks could impact the UK’s food security.
Long read
Ultra processed foods aren’t ‘silver bullet’ to obesity crisis
In an exclusive interview with Food Manufacture, the FDF’s Karen Betts and Kate Halliwell share their thoughts on the UPF debate that has gripped the nation.
News
Ultra-processed foods make up 66% of adolescents’ daily calorie intake, new study shows
Adolescents consume around two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), a new study from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol has found.
News
Brits admit to ultra-processed food addiction
UK consumers admit to being addicted to ultra-processed foods (UPFs), with a vast majority consuming them at least once a week, according to new research by healthy eating platform Lifesum.
Long read
7 big moments of 2023 for food and drink
As we usher in the new year, Bethan Grylls takes a look back over the course of 2023 and flags seven key moments for the food and drink industry.
Short read
State of the food and drink sector in 2023 and beyond
In an exclusive online event, Food Manufacture heard from three industry experts as they captured today’s food and drink trends and how wider societal challenges have impact behaviour and policy.
Feature
How Gen Z is influencing bakery trends
Born between 1996 and 2020, Gen Z is a key consumer to lock-down. Here’s how their experiences have influenced the bakery category.
News
Deadly diet pill jail sentence welcomed by FSS
Jamie George (32) of Denny, Scotland has been sentenced to jail for supplying potentially fatal ‘diet pills’ to members of the public, a landmark case for Food Standards Scotland’s (FFS’s) crime unit.
News
Healthy and sustainable diets are becoming unaffordable, reveals Food Foundation report
The 2023 Broken Plate report from The Food Foundation has highlighted the rising cost of healthy and sustainable food, and how this disproportionately impacts the poorest people in society.
News
Danone UK boss calls for higher taxes on HFSS foods
The UK government should consider raising taxes on foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), according to Danone UK & Ireland president James Mayer.
Long read
City Food & Drink Lecture: We can feed everyone sustainably, but it’ll be difficult
Sir Charles Godfray led the keynote speech at this year’s City Food & Drink Lecture as he explored how we can address the biggest challenges of our time – feeding the population, while being sustainable and promoting healthy options for all.
Watch
The triple threat facing our food system: Inside the IFST Spring Conference 2023
Hear from speakers and exhibitors of the IFST Spring Conference in this video, as they discuss the importance of this year’s themes of food security, health and nutrition, and the environment - and some of the solutions which could help.
Long read
Creating a defence for food processing
Ronan Gormley of the University College Dublin summarises the key takeaways of the recent EFFoST conference, as experts took to the floor to debate food processing in relation to health, perception and sustainability.
Long read
Creating safe and secure food supply chains
Bethan Grylls summarises the key takeaways from our series of fireside chats presented earlier this week, sponsored by RSSL, as five food and drink leaders lend their expertise on maintaining and working towards a more secure, safer food and drink system.
Opinion
Why processed foods have a bad reputation – and what industry can do to educate
Food engineer, Dr Camila Perussello, argues her case for a change in narrative around processed food and health in this in-depth opinion piece.
News
East meets West, calorie-controlled and new blends of texture will dominate 2023 food and drink
According to FrieslandCampina Professional’s latest global trend report, three trends are set to rule 2023 food and beverages. Find out more about Weastern Wonders, Conscious Curiosity and Sensory Novelty here.
Kerry launches new tool to measure nutrition and labelling
Kerry, the taste and nutrition company, has launched a new tool that will support food manufacturers to optimise the nutritional profile of products while being aware of the various front of pack regulations.
Food industry sugar reduction: Critics disappointed at the results
Food and drink firms reported sweeping reductions in sugar in the Government’s Sugar Reduction Programme: Industry progress update, but criticism was levelled against the industry for its inability to meet voluntary targets.
Mandatory reporting of salt by manufacturers could be needed to 'improve transparency'
The average salt content of food products sold at supermarkets showed no change between 2015 and 2020, new research from the University of Oxford has aid.
New research to improve understanding of the UK food system
The University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute has been awarded £1.6m to fund new research into improving the understanding of the UK food system and help people experiencing food insecurity and living with obesity make healthier, more sustainable food...
Raft of brands reformulate to launch non-HFSS products
A raft of new non-HFSS brands have hit the market in the month that new Government regulations came into force.
Seventy organisations raise concerns about Government obesity review
A letter, signed by 70 organisations, sent to Prime Minister Liz Truss, is raising “profound concerns” that measures to promote children's health may be abandoned without facing the scrutiny of Parliament.
Food waste top concern among British consumers
Food waste, sugar and animal welfare were among the top concerns for British consumers when buying food, according to a new report from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Digital feature: long read
Bakery & confectionery trends 2022
Pressure to make products healthier for shoppers may have temporarily eased as prices have soared, but that doesn't mean processors are easing off reformulation or innovation, says Alyson Magee.
Healthy Snacking feature
Healthy snacking: The journey towards non-HFSS
As consumer demand for healthy snacks continues to grow, we explore how food manufacturers have tackled the need to make their products non-high in fat, salt and sugar.
HFSS manufacturers urged to reformulate or risk being left behind
Food manufacturers and retailers have been advised to 'seize the day' and drive innovation on healthy foods without being forced by Government legislation.
Government Food Strategy shows it's 'in pocket of food industry'
The Government Food Strategy has avoided backing 'bold, evidence-based recommendations' in Henry Dimbleby's National Food Strategy that would have significantly improved the UK food system – a 'shambolic' decision, pressure groups claim.
Changes in the nutritional labelling landscape: challenges and opportunities
Sweeping changes to legislation for nutritional information presents challenges and opportunities for food manufacturers, according to a new white paper from product development firm Griffith Foods.
Collaborate to promote healthier eating in face of HFSS legislation
Greater collaboration is needed to make the Government’s restrictions on HFSS promotions bear fruit, but the legislation ‘isn't the silver bullet’ for the UK’s obesity crisis.