New protections for British food and drink in Japan
UK food exporters receive an ‘early Christmas present’ from the Japanese government, as 39 British food and drink products secure protected geographical status in Japan.
Regulation & Legislation
Trading Standards team wins prestigious Megan Lee award
Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards Food Team has been recognised for its efforts in raising awareness and improving allergen safety in food businesses and communities at the Megan Lee Awards.
Listeria scare sparks cheese recall
Dunnes Stores has pulled nine cheese products from shelves in Northern Ireland (NI) due to a possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
How new UK trade sanctions regulations will impact your business
A new wave of trade sanctions enforcement is putting food manufacturers at heightened risk. Marc Lasok-Smith, James Lindop and Monika Zejden-Erdmann from Eversheds Sutherland explain why – and the practical steps to safeguard your food business operations.
UK Government agrees North Sea fishing deal worth £310m
The UK Government has reached an agreement with the EU and Norway to secure fishing quotas worth up to £310m on stocks including cod, haddock and herring.
Futureproofing farming: Finance expert shares inheritance tax insight and planning tips
Following recent backlash from many UK farmers against changes to inheritance tax, Sam Cawley, investment director and chartered financial planner from law firm Nelsons, explores what this will mean and some key considerations to help prepare for change...
EUDR: What on earth is going on?
Over the last couple of months, conversations around EUDR changes have been making headlines. Here’s the latest…
News
May 2025 deadline set for probe into 2 Sisters owner’s feed deal
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set a 6 May 2025 deadline for its investigation into the anticipated acquisition of two feed mills owned by ForFarmers UK by Boparan Private Office.
News
Hong Kong becomes the third market to allow sale of cultivated meat
Hong Kong has become the third global market to allow the sale of cultivated meat.
News
Wales withdraws from UK Deposit Return Scheme
The Welsh Government has announced that it is withdrawing from the planned UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
Legal Brief
Legal and ethical essentials when navigating brand collaborations
Alexandra Hammond, partner at UK law firm Foot Anstey, explores the key legal considerations collaborating food and beverage brands should be aware of to minimise reputational damage and generate renewed, positive buzz.
News
April 2025 decision date set for probe into £762m GXO deal for Wincanton
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set a 30 April 2025 decision deadline for its Phase 2 investigation into the acquisition of Wincanton by GXO.
News
Samworth Brothers fined £1.28m after worker crushed to death
Samworth Brothers has been fined £1.28m after an employee was killed in the loading bay of a facility operated by the food manufacturer.
News
Regulator finds wine investment ads were ‘misleading’
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has instructed four UK wine investment businesses to take down online adverts because they were in breach of industry codes.
News
Investigation clears Arla Food Ingredients to acquire Volac's Whey Nutrition business
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded its investigation into the anticipated acquisition of Volac Whey Nutrition Holdings by Arla Food Ingredients.
News
Professor Susan Jebb to serve as FSA chair until 2027
Professor Susan Jebb has been reappointed as the chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
News
2 Sisters owner feed deal may raise prices for farmers, CMA finds
An investigation has found that the move by Boparan Private Office to acquire a ForFarmers-owned feed mill in East Anglia could result in higher feed prices.
News
£762m GXO acquisition of Wincanton could 'lessen' logistics competition
An investigation into GXO’s purchase of Wincanton has concluded that the deal could reduce competition within the UK contract logistics services market.
News
NFU Scotland calls for radical overhaul of food labelling
National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland has called for a radical overhaul of the regulatory framework governing food labels as less than half of consumers felt they knew enough about the origins of the food they buy.
News
PepsiCo plastic pollution lawsuit dismissed
The New York State Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed against PepsiCo regarding plastic pollution in the Buffalo River.
News
Man arrested after £300k worth of cheese stolen
A man has been arrested in connection with the theft of 22 tonnes of cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy.
News
Budget reaction from food and drink industry
Figures from across the food and drink manufacturing sector have reacted to the 2024 Autumn Budget, announced on 30 October by chancellor Rachel Reeves.
News
Suspended prison sentence for farmer after worker dies from roof fall
A Hampshire farm operator has been handed a suspended prison sentence after a worker fell to their death.
News
UK and EU conclude negotiations on competition cooperation agreement
The UK Government and the EU have concluded technical negotiations over the outlines of a forthcoming competition agreement.
News
Government urged to cut food waste as £15m fund hangs in the balance
Food redistribution charities have urged UK Government to commit to stopping food waste as the fate of a £15m fund from the previous government remains up in the air.
News
Government urged to put the brakes on ‘flawed’ EPR scheme
Members of the wine and spirits industry have urged the UK Government to put the brakes on the ‘flawed’ Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme set to launch in January
News
Investigation launched into $3.9bn acquisition of food packaging manufacturer
An inquiry into the anticipated $3.9bn acquisition of Eviosys by Sonoco has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
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
Müller acquisition of Yew Tree Dairy cleared after investigation
Müller’s anticipated acquisition of Yew Tree Dairy has been cleared by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) following an investigation into the deal.
News
Farmer fined £16k after worker dies in fall
A farmer has been cleared of manslaughter but fined after a worker was killed on his farm in Cheshire while attempting to repair the roof of a packing shed.
Long read
BTOM: Food for thought on a growing problem
Dan Culverhouse, UK&I managing director of Customs Support, analyses whether the recent relationship ‘reset’ with Europe will help resolve border issues.
News
BFFF launches food waste reduction campaign
The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has launched its latest Frozen Food Revolution campaign focusing on reducing food waste.
News
The future of food standards in the UK at risk: FSA report
Ongoing shortages of key food safety and standards professionals are threatening the future of food standards in the UK, according to a new report from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS).
News
Vegetarian Society unveils new trademarks
The Vegetarian Society has unveiled a fresh design for its Approved vegetarian and vegan trademarks.
News
RSPCA Assured accused of 'welfare-washing'
Veganuary co-founder Matthew Glover has accused RSPCA Assured of 'welfare-washing' and has called for the end of the scheme describing it as 'meaningless'.
News
Bakery fined £360k after worker loses finger
Jacksons Bakery has been fined more than £360k after a member of staff lost a finger in machinery at its Northamptonshire site.
UK creates first regulatory sandbox for cultivated meat
The UK Government is to create Europe’s first cultivated meat regulatory sandbox to improve the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) scientific knowledge.
News
Meaty terms for vegetarian foods deemed legal in EU
EU member states are unable to stop food manufacturers from labelling vegetarian foods with ‘meaty’ names, according to a new ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
News
Government scraps UK-wide ‘not for EU’ labelling plans
The UK Government has scrapped plans to introduce ‘not for EU’ labelling on food products put on sale in Britain.
News
Small abattoirs put at risk by potential change in regulations
Potential changes in regulations for abattoirs risk furthering the decline of the UK’s small abattoirs sector, according to Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
News
Tereos fined £25k after CMA investigation
Food ingredients firm Tereos has been fined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for failing to provide relevant information in relation to a recent merger investigation.
News
Fines and lawsuits after data breaches ‘worse than the attack itself’
Fines and lawsuits that arise in the aftermath of a cyber attack on your business could be more damaging than the attack itself, according to network security firm NordLayer.
News
Investigation launched into Arla Food Ingredients deal for nutrition brand
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into the anticipated acquisition of Volac Whey Nutrition by Arla Food Ingredients.
News
UK exports to EU down almost a quarter
Food and drink export values fell in the first six months of the year, a 6.1% decline compared to the first half of 2023.
Initial regulated product reforms coming next year
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed it will introduce changes early next year to modernise the commercialisation of cultivated meat and precision fermentation.
News
Government confirms plans for junk food ad ban before watershed
Plans to ban ads for food and drink high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) appearing on television before 9pm have been given the go ahead by UK Government.
News
Cross party group calls food security to be heart of Labour’s industrial strategy
UK policymakers have been urged to put food security at the heart of the Government’s industrial strategy and to focus less on agriculture in a cross party-based report by think tank Policy Exchange.
News
2 Sisters owner facing investigation over feed mills acquisition
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an inquiry into the proposed acquisition of two ForFarmers owned feed mills by Boparan Private Office (BPO).
Short read
Is your factory safe?
A panel of experts discuss how food and drink manufacturers can ensure that their health and safety practices are fit for purpose.
News
Farmer fined £500 after allowing grandchild to illegally ride tractor
A farmer in South Wales has been given a 12-month community order and a £500 fine after allowing a child to ride in a tractor while he fed cattle on his farm.