F&B industry review 2023: Coping with inflation, climate change and supply chain challenges

18 Dec 2023 --- Food Ingredients First celebrates the holiday season by looking back at some of the most significant news stories in 2023. The year has been packed with AI-enhanced innovations, a plethora of new ingredients and alternative proteins, novel food technologies and a whole host of R&D initiatives and trials predicted to shape future food. 

But, the year has also presented many challenges. Industry grappled with inflation, price pressures and the adverse impacts of conflict and climate change, as geo-political unrest weighed heavily on food and beverage businesses. 

January

Companies and consumers expected to embrace plant-based eating in 2023
“Veganuary” took hold in January, marking a decade since the annual campaign promoting plant-based food first began. According to an Innova Market Insights’ trends survey for 2023, consumers are attracted to plant-based alternative foods because they deem them healthier and better for the planet and help them bring variety to their diets.

ProVeg fighting “plant-based censorship” as UK government considers restrictions for non-dairy terminology
While food formulators focused on plant-based alternative protein innovation, particularly in terms of improving taste, texture and offering a cleaner label, ProVeg International was fighting “plant-based censorship” as the UK government considered restrictions for non-dairy terminology. 

Innova Market Insights’ trends survey for 2023 indicated consumers lean toward plant-based food as they consider them healthier.Brenntag reveals buyout talks breakdown as Univar Solutions hints at other “indications of interest”
In business news, German chemicals distributor Brenntag pulled out of discussions to potentially acquire US rival Univar Solutions. This development saw the company terminate the preliminary buyout talks just a few weeks after declaring an interest and making waves about a possible mega-merger. 

Sesame shortcut: Allergen law backfires as food companies bypass new regulation
Sesame was added to the official US list of allergens, which meant it was subject to specific food allergen regulatory requirements, including explicit labeling for the ingredient and manufacturing rules. However, we reported how the law was backfiring as some baking companies were circumnavigating the regulations. We examined how some food companies were intentionally adding sesame flour to their products to avoid complying with the intent of the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research Act.

War and extreme weather exacerbate food crisis, research warns
Barclays revealed a research report examining how the war in Ukraine, coupled with extreme weather events, was threatening food security globally, potentially turning back years of progress. Oxfam called for food corporations profiting during inflation and war to pay a windfall tax while the FAO ramped up funding for war-torn Ukraine with a US$205 million cash injection to bolster supplies of wheat, barley and oat seeds.

High-rise pig farms put China’s insatiable pork demand in conflict with climate and animal activism
The world’s largest single-building pig farm was constructed in China’s Hubei province in a move that critics warned could result in the next global pandemic and undermine climate change policy, animal welfare and workers’ rights. The facility reportedly has the capacity to slaughter around 1.2 million pigs annually.

February

Examining the meaning of eco-labels: Is it time for mandated methodology?
A myriad of so-called eco-labels were being rolled out across various F&B products, but with no gold standard or strict rules governing precisely what the logos mean and what methodology is behind them, concerns were growing that they would confuse consumers and ultimately be counterproductive. Food Ingredients First examined the issue.

Singapore reigns supreme on cultivated meat regulation as tech leaders edge toward commercialization
Singapore hit another cultivated meat milestone by approving Good Meat’s use of serum-free media to produce lab-grown chicken for human consumption. The Singapore Food Agency’s approval promised to advance the country’s trailblazing support for cell-based meat and left the US and Europe playing catch up on the regulatory front. This began a series of stories throughout 2023 focusing on regulatory moves within the cell-based space. 

Future-proofing butter production: FrieslandCampina shutters Netherlands factory, job losses on the horizon
FrieslandCampina revealed that it would make job cuts to optimize its butter production, moving all of its butter production to Lochem, Netherlands, by mid-2025 following the plannedFrieslandCampina said it will shut down its butter production plant in ‘s-Hertogenbosch by mid-2025.closure of its facility in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. The company stated that its decision was based on the rising demand for cream products used as raw materials for butter.

Gene-edited wheat unlocks low acrylamide levels for flour
The level of acrylamide continued to spark debate in the food industry as UK wheat trials of a gene-edited wheat variety discovered a “significant reduction of the potential carcinogen acrylamide when the flour is baked.” The initial findings were predicted to have a considerable impact as low acrylamide would allow food businesses to get ahead of the curve on evolving regulations on the presence of acrylamide in food without costly changes to production lines or reductions in product quality.

Alternative to hexane: Methyloxolane’s EU approval poised to accelerate food reformulation
Following EU approval of the natural solvent methyloxolane as a permitted processing aid for manufacturing food ingredients, producers were handed an alternative to petroleum-derived hexane. Methyloxolane is an organic liquid solvent and a by-product of sugarcane bagasse, the dry, pulpy, fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane or sorghum stalks to extract their juice. 

Northern Ireland Protocol “breakthrough” promises to alleviate pressure on F&B industry
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak achieved what he hailed as a “real breakthrough” by agreeing on fundamental revisions to the Northern Ireland Protocol — now named the Windsor Framework — with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyon. Over 1,700 EU laws were removed and a new “green lane” was said to exempt agri-food businesses from bureaucratic border checks at the Irish Sea — something leaders hoped would bolster trade in the region.

March

PAN report finds “no obstacles” to banning glyphosate as alternatives exist for all agricultural uses
The debate on glyphosate began to heat up ahead of the EU’s decision later in the year on whether to re-approve the active ingredient of the controversial weed killer Roundup. Pesticide Action Network’s report showed that non-chemical alternatives exist for all known major uses of glyphosate-based herbicides while demonstrating how the transition to glyphosate-free agriculture is economically feasible. This began our extended glyphosate coverage throughout the year.

Tackling greenwashing: BEUC urges ban on “harmful” carbon-neutral food claims
Misleading “carbon neutral” claims were said to be proliferating across several F&B sectors and leading to consumer confusion and greenwashing accusations. European consumer organization BEUC urged the EU to ban the use of so-called carbon-neutral claims for food and beverage items.

GOOD Meat’s cultivated meat products cleared the FDA’s crucial safety approvals.Lactoferrin innovation: FrieslandCampina expands protein processing & unlocks immunity-boosting power
We went behind the scenes at the company’s new facility in the Netherlands, unveiled to produce lactoferrin, a highly nutritious protein and “extremely important ingredient,” which can boost immune systems and promote disease resistance. The facility was slated to enable the company to enhance its production of lactoferrin — an antiviral ingredient and critical component of infant formula — from 20 to 80 metric tons per year.

GOOD Meat’s cell-based products clear FDA hurdles in the second US cultivated meat authorization
The cultivated meat division of food technology company Eat Just, Inc., GOOD Meat, received a “no questions” letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which signaled it had cleared crucial safety approvals. This formed part of the FDA’s first pre-market consultations for a new kind of meat, poultry and seafood made from cells instead of raised and slaughtered animals as cell-based meat edged closer to commercialization in the US.

EFSA’s risk assessment on nitrosamine exposure in food raises health concern
Exposure to nitrosamines through food, during its preparation and processing, raised health concerns, flagged the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in its latest draft opinion. EFSA’s assessment of the public health risk related to the presence of nitrosamines in food found ten nitrosamines are carcinogenic and genotoxic (may damage DNA). 

How does Italy’s proposed cell-based ban impact the burgeoning lab-grown industry?
Italy began moves to ban the country’s food industry from producing cell-based foods in a bid to “protect culinary heritage.” The draft bill was approved by the Italian government and submitted to Parliament for a future vote. It was set to have major implications for the nascent industry, which is making great strides worldwide with regulatory approvals and cell-based products on the brink of commercialization.

April

Feeding cows red seaweed poised to turn the tide on dairy and meat’s methane emissions
The market for methane-suppressing products was predicted to heat up as governments around the world moved toward rolling out policies targeted at boosting their uptake. The UK government said cows will be given “methane blockers” to cut climate emissions, while researchers discovered lactating cows that are fed a diet of seaweed oil may emit significantly less of the environmentally degrading gas.

Alt-fish innovators widen net on ocean-friendly offerings as overfishing concerns escalate
As Easter approached and consumers readied themselves for traditional fish dishes, we looked at how the alt-seafood category was brimming with new possibilities. This investigation came as environmental concerns intrinsically linked to fish and seafood consumption gathered pace and consumers demanded more ocean-friendly options.

Microalgae from volcanic hot springs erupts as promising protein source
A microalga species that grows in volcanic hot springs was forecast to unlock a new alternative protein source and predicted to disrupt the spirulina market due to its natural blue pigment. Major industry players welcomed the European Parliament’s decision to adopt a new anti-deforestation law, while farmers feared losing livelihoods.The nutritional functionality of Galdieria sulphuraria was also hailed as superior to other microalgae and was being examined as a potential food source following research from the Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands.

DSM clears all competition clearance hurdles in move to merge with Firmenich
DSM revealed it had only one final bridge left to cross in its merger with Firmenich. The new company, dsm-firmenich, was slated to start trading on the stock exchange in late April after it received the final clearance from the Competition Commission of India. 

Barry Callebaut expands Ruby chocolate line with new chip to enhance bakery and snacks
The Swiss-Belgian cocoa processor expanded its Ruby chocolate line with a new chip to enhance bakery and snacks. Barry Callebaut’s Ruby chocolate, first introduced in 2017, broke into the baking and snacking segments with the unveiling of a baking chip poised to “unlock” new segments. Hailed for its unique combination of berry fruitiness and smoothness, Ruby offers bakery and snack innovators a new premium, flavor-forward solution.

EU’s global deforestation law finds industry favor but smallholder farmers fear trade exclusion
The European Parliament’s decision to adopt a new law to fight global deforestation was welcomed by major industry players like Nestlé and Barry Callebaut as a positive step toward high-quality, sustainable food systems, but also left smallholder farmers fearing for their livelihoods. The regulation requires companies to ensure products sold in the EU have not led to deforestation or forest degradation. 

May

Sweegen obtains FEMA GRAS status for sweet protein brazzein technology
Sweegen revealed that its “highly sought-after” sweet protein Ultratia brazzein technology received Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status from the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA). The company was the first to attain FEMA GRAS status and produce brazzein commercially globally. Sweegen said the approval was significant as it would allow manufacturers to use its range of Sweetensify Flavors confidently, including the novel sweet protein brazzein in their product formulations.

dsm-firmenich completes nutrition mega-merger: Innovation prospects uncovered live at Vitafoods Europe
DSM and Firmenich completed their “merger of equals,” creating a robust business platform to “reinvent, manufacture and combine vital nutrients, flavors and fragrances.” The Swiss-Dutch group reported a combined revenue of around €12 billion (US$13.17 billion).

dsm-firmenich completed its mega-merger and plans to create progressive products, like probiotic milk beverages and plant-based burgers.Black Sea Grain Initiative expires, lack of agreement threatens global food security
Not for the first time in 2023, the Black Sea Grain Initiative was reaching an expiry date, prompting fears that it would finally cease after topping 30 million metric tons of exported food from Ukraine earlier in May. 

Givaudan harnesses AI to develop “futurescaping platform” to forecast future food
We spoke with Givaudan when the company launched its Customer Foresight, marketed as a proprietary futurescaping platform built in-house at Givaudan’s Digital Factory in Paris, France. The platform leverages Givaudan’s human expertise, big data and AI to anticipate F&B challenges, foresee consumer expectations and develop food experiences.

UK government accused of abandoning animal welfare issues as vital Kept Animals Bill is scrapped
The UK government made a U-turn on its animal welfare initiatives, scrapping the Kept Animals Bill, which was met with heavy criticism from the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWR) and The Humane Society International-UK group. Instead, the government set up a new Animal Sentience Committee that said it would focus on penalty notices. The CAWR said it was “disappointed” about the discontinuation of the Kept Animals Bill, originally backed by Rishi Sunak during his manifesto to become Prime Minister.

Curbing methane in the food chain: Report targets livestock, rice and food waste
Sixty percent of methane emissions come from global food systems and reducing methane by 30% by 2030 is vital to achieving the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change climate targets. However, greenhouse gas emissions have continually increased in recent years, with 2021 and 2022 recording the largest increases in methane emissions ever recorded, reported the Climateworks Foundation and Global Methane Hub.

June

Kerry launches egg reduction enzyme to counter “eggflation” in bakery
Kerry unveiled an enzyme solution that can help bakers reduce their egg use by up to 30% in a variety of products. The company said its Biobake EgR reduction enzyme system could also enable manufacturers to switch from caged to free-range or organic eggs without increasing costs. This innovation came as the European Commission proposed legislation to phase out cages in animal agriculture by 2027.

Obstacle to trade? Irish hard line on alcohol labeling faces backlash
Ireland announced plans to introduce some of the strictest alcohol labeling laws in May 2026, requiring warnings about cancer, drinking while pregnant and liver disease risks. However, implementing the new regulation proposals faced opposition from industry, EU countries and some overseas World Trade Organization (WTO) members. 

An FAO report deemed cheeses, nut butters and a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables as the riskiest for food safety.Bunge and Viterra agree mega-merger to form global agribusiness powerhouse
Bunge entered into a definitive agreement with Viterra, together with certain affiliates of Glencore PLC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, to merge with Viterra in a stock and cash transaction. The combined company would be valued at a reported US$34 billion, including debt, while the proposed merger was expected to attract close regulatory scrutiny.

JBS prepares for alt-protein demand boom with cultivated beef mega-plant in Europe
JBS revealed construction plans to build a cell-based beef facility in San Sebastián, Spain, to diversify its meat portfolio and accelerate cell-based innovation amid growing global protein demand. The plant, which will cost around US$41 million, was slated to be operational by mid-2024 and was forecast to be the largest of its kind in the world.

World Food Safety Day sheds light on barriers to traceable food systems
Some of the biggest challenges to achieving traceable food systems were cited by an FAO report, including logistical difficulties and seamless data sharing between different software tools without human intervention or “interoperability.” Marking World Food Safety Day, we looked into how traceability is crucial to food safety as better, faster and more reliable traceability can help reduce the time and scale of recalls and identify the root cause of foodborne illness outbreaks. 

EFSA opens door for yellow mealworm powder as novel food
The EU moved a step closer to allowing UV-treated yellow mealworm powder to be sold as a human-grade food when the European Food Safety Authority issued a positive opinion on the safety and nutritional value of Tenebrio molitor after French company Nutri’Earth submitted a novel food application. A company co-founder told us the product could be used as an ingredient in various flour-based foods, such as cakes and bread, as well as in pasta, mashed potatoes and vegetables.

July

Kellogg’s revamp “on track” as company prepares to split into snacks and cereal
Several F&B behemoths reported business developments and sales growth in July. This included Kellogg’s filing a Form 10 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to separate into two businesses: Kellanova and WK Kellogg. Unilever presented its half-year results showing an underlying sales growth with Hellmann’s sauces and Magnum among the brands that helped boost sales. Nestlé upgraded its business outlook amid historic sales growth, as KitKat and out-of-home sales were cited as major contributors to growth. 

IFT FIRST: Decadent dairy-free innovation takes culinary spotlight in Chicago
We attended IFT FIRST in Chicago, where creamy, rich vegan alternatives to cream cheeses, ice cream and custards dotted the show floor. We spoke to Bartek Ingredients about its Uplift Taste Modification Technology and Prova about its commitment to sustainability and bringing “story-rich vanilla” to the US market. Beneo also expanded its fiber portfolio with barley beta-glucans designed to boost heart health, while Kemin unveiled clean label functional protein for breaded and fried foods.

We attended IFT FIRST event in Chicago, where Beneo showcased its first barley beta-glucans ingredient Orafti β-Fit.Black Sea Grain Initiative collapse sparks fears over global food supplies
After weeks of intense speculation over the future of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the deal finally collapsed as Russia decided that no more food was to leave Ukrainian seaports. The UN said the initiative had played a “vital” and “indispensable role” in global food security by easing market pressures and averting the worst impacts of the food crisis. In other news related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Russian government seized control of Danone and Carlsberg subsidiaries in the country.

Sweet relief? Industry welcomes WHO’s aspartame safety reconfirmation, but consumers left confused
The acceptable daily intake level of aspartame was reconfirmed through a risk assessment by the WHO and FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives. But the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s classification of “possibly carcinogenic to humans” still stood. Industry applauded the reaffirmation of aspartame’s safety but worried the conflicting evaluations may confuse consumers. 

Innova Market Insights reveals health is key driver of future food product development
Despite the atmosphere of financial uncertainty and the cost of living spiraling, consumers surveyed by Innova Market Insights revealed that health is the number one driver of future F&B product development. Notably, consumers of all demographics and income levels were said to be prioritizing health over affordability, among other factors. 

European Green Deal: Organic farmers dispute “dangerous” deregulation of genetic science
European leaders introduced a landmark package of legislative proposals deemed critical to securing the resilience of sustainably farmed food. This ignited debate among industry stakeholders surrounding its viability. One critical point of contention was the relaxing of regulatory oversight on “new genomic techniques,” such as genetic engineering. But organic farming representatives at IFOAM Organics Europe considered the European Commission’s proposal to deregulate new genomic techniques as “misguided, dangerous for European seed autonomy and a distraction from the agroecological solutions needed to move agriculture toward sustainability.”

August

Anti-deforestation action: Coffee, cocoa and soy giants embrace geospatial tech and small farm initiatives
Tradin Organic, Cargill and ofi announced plans to harness satellite monitoring solutions and AI to advance supply chain transparency as Europe prepared for the new EU Deforestation Regulation. The corporations also said they were increasingly supporting smallholder farmers with sustainable farming initiatives, recognizing the risks their exclusion from value chains could pose to reforestation efforts.

Vegan calamari: Researchers develop 3D printed ink made from microalgae and mung bean protein
In innovation news, vegan calamari was developed using 3D printed ink made from microalgae and mung bean protein. Food tech innovators in the US explained how their proof-of-concept calamari rings can be air-fried and stand out in terms of protein content. This concept was pegged as being significant due to the continued pressure on worldwide fish stocks and a rise in demand for ocean-friendly seafood alternatives.

Tradin Organic, Cargill and ofi turned to satellite monitoring and AI to bolster supply chain transparency.Daily bread revamp: Novel tech for seaweed-infused bakery products receives patent approval
Sea & Flour received patent approval for its processing methods and systems for cold washing, processing and granulating seaweed for baking applications. The bio-baking technology makes high-protein, low-sodium bread with seaweed as a primary ingredient. The company claimed it is one of the first to incorporate seaweed into commercialized bread.

Cultivated meat in the UK? Aleph Farms files Britain’s first cell-based steak application
The Israel-based food tech firm applied to the UK Food Standards Agency to sell its cultivated beef steak, marking the first application to sell cultivated meat in the country shortly after it targeted Switzerland with a similar application. The UK and EU lag behind the US and Singapore in making regulatory approval gains within the novel cell-based arena. 

India’s rice export ban creates international shockwave on commodity markets
India’s sudden ban on non-basmati white rice caused ripple effects across international markets, spurring some panic buying and price increases. Moreover, the country was also dealing with increased prices for tomatoes and other vegetables and wheat and sugar, fueling food inflation. Prices of rice in India have risen 11.5% year-on-year and 3% in August. 

Novozymes and Arla Foods Ingredients to innovate “designer-made proteins” targeting medical nutrition
The two companies inked a deal to develop advanced protein ingredients using precision fermentation. Novozymes said it would contribute its expertise in creating microbial strains for the industrial-scale production of proteins, which complements Arla Foods Ingredients’ “food technology know-how,” including knowledge of the regulatory landscape and separation and drying processes to remove components from food mixtures.

September

From sugar reduction to functional foods: Sustainable wellness trends to take spotlight at Anuga 2023
Industry geared up for the Anuga trade show in Cologne, Germany, where food production’s intrinsic link to the environment and climate through the theme “Sustainable Growth” was highlighted. During the show, Agus presented plant-based smoothies and honey nut bars. Vitafoods Asia 2023 was also held in Thailand this month, where functional ingredients, fortifying fibers and plant-powered trends in APAC were in the spotlight. 

Cargill opens “world of protein under one roof,” boosting chicken concepts and AI for animal welfare
Cargill upgraded its chicken specialty facility in Saint-Cyr-en-Val, France, with a Protein Innovation Hub to enable customers to co-create protein-rich menu strategies. The site boosts innovation in protein categories, including but not limited to chicken and incorporates a pilot plant to test new products and concepts. Food Ingredients First spoke with company executives about the investment in the French poultry value chain and how this expansion program will increase output capacity by 10%.

We attended an exclusive press event that highlighted a digital platform allowing users to conceptualize and visualize cell-based foods being customized in real time.Out of this world eating: Interplanetary food tech bridges future science and sustainable agriculture
Sustainable food cultivation adapted to the terraformed Martian environment could advance local farming in similarly harsh climates on Earth. This was one theory examined by scientists and artists exhibiting the “Spacefarming” future food event hosted by Next Nature Network in the Netherlands. We attended a press event ahead of the exhibition’s launch where novel concepts like cultivated burgers, precision fermentation-based milk from a robotic cow and potatoes grown in space were unveiled to the public. 

Disrupting palm oil’s dominance? Scientists develop eco-friendly alternative targeting bakery applications
A team of scientists in Scotland, UK, discovered what they hailed as a high-class alternative to popular yet controversial palm oil. They told us that the plant-based substitute caters to food formulators looking to clean up their label and move away from palm oil over-reliance, something which the industry has debated for years as the ingredient is often linked to deforestation. 

Crafting a super spud: Researchers set the stage for climate-resistant potato poised to enhance nutrition
Scientists created a super pan genome that captured the complete genetic diversity across multiple potato species to identify genetic traits that can help improve its resilience and nutritional quality. The researchers analyzed data from public data banks, including gene banks in Canada, the US and Peru and spoke to us about their findings.

Hydrocow project: Solar Foods develops milk protein from CO2 and renewable electricity
In other research news, the Hydrocow project showcased how Solar Foods will develop milk protein from CO2 and renewable electricity. The company and its academic partners received €5.5million (US$5.9 million) to propel the project. A representative told us they would genetically engineer a hydrogen oxidizing bacteria to excrete beta-lactoglobulin naturally and if successful, this could lead to a microbial platform used to convert CO2 into usable ingredients like lactoferrin, casein, enzymes or other proteins with different functionalities.

October

Fukushima fallout: US military offsets China’s ban on Japan seafood imports by buying in bulk
The US army stepped in to buy Japan’s seafood following China’s ban on imports after water was released from the Fukushima nuclear plant earlier in the year, sparking food safety radiation concerns. We reported how US armed forces and Japan-based co-ops and fisheries were in talks to expand the seafood initiative further and counter China’s ban. Meanwhile, the fish ban created an opportunity for innovators in the plant-based space.

SupplySide West live: Tate & Lyle prototypes boast functionality, fun and flavor in Las Vegas
We attended SupplySide West in Las Vegas, US, where we spoke to Tate & Lyle about its range of concepts that deliver on taste, novelty and functionality. Kerr by Ingredion presented fruit and vegetable solutions, including a portfolio of juices, purees, concentrates, essences, distillates and custom formulations from both conventional and organic fruits.

Innova Market Insights revealed its Top Ten Food & Drink Trends 2024, indicating consumers' preference for their favorite ingredients amid ongoing financial pressures.Targeting oil and fat rancidity: Scientists use AI tools to tackle food spoilage and increase shelf life
Scientists in the US told us how they utilized an AI model based on deep learning architecture to extend the shelf life of food products that go through rancidity, a process that imparts off-odors and tastes to food when it gets oxidized. They said their findings could be applied across F&B applications, which use fats and oils, and be particularly useful in the chips, chocolate and nut categories.

Israel-Hamas war: Food convoys leak into Gaza as UN issues high-risk civilian starvation warnings
Our Israel-Hama war coverage included how a convoy of aid trucks carried food and medical supplies into Gaza, marking the second shipment of basic goods reaching the strip’s 2.3 million residents since Israel’s total blockade following Hamas’ terrorist attacks, in which at least 1,300 civilians were murdered on October 7.

Top Ten Food & Drink Trends 2024: Innova Market Insights pinpoints ingredients “Taking the spotlight”
Innova Market Insights revealed its Top Ten Food & Drink Trends for 2024, with “Taking the spotlight” coming out on top. Certain ingredients are expected to rise to prominence in 2024 as sentimental factors, social media and health claims are expected to drive purchasing decisions. “Nurturing nature” was identified as the number two trend, followed by “Prioritizing prevention,” “Plant-based: The rise of applied offerings” and “Local goes global.”

Slippery slope? US confectionery association slams “unscientific” California food additives ban
The California law banning red dye No.3 and other food additives — slated to start in 2027 — is “unscientific and unnecessary,” said the National Confectioners Association, which hit out at the new legislation, claiming the cost of reformulation will be substantial. Earlier in the month, California became the first state in the US to ban chemicals, including red dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propylparaben, because of their potential link to health issues like cancer and behavioral problems in children.

November

The AI gap: Rabobank expects F&B giants to stretch dominance amid affordability barriers
We examined how artificial intelligence holds the potential to transform the consumer food sector by refining operation processes, forging deeper connections with consumers and developing innovative solutions for sustainability and nutrition, according to a Rabobank report. But, AI also poses significant risks to the industry, including affordability issues, “AI washing,” and the dangers of irresponsible use, the bank noted.

Fast-food failures: Chicken welfare report finds restaurant giants unprepared for Europe’s new rules
A World Animal Protection report claimed that European fast-food leaders were largely stalling on broiler chicken welfare standards. McDonald’s, Burger King and Starbucks were among the chains with “very poor” performance on chicken welfare management and reporting in several countries. Meanwhile, animal welfare groups filed a complaint with the Ombudsman over the EU Commission’s caged-farming ban failure.

We covered the FiE event live from Frankfurt, where Roquette showcased sugar-reduced and fiber-forward plant prototypes.European Parliament dismisses Commission’s bill to curb pesticide use
Our glyphosate coverage continued when the European Parliament rejected the European Commission’s bill to curb pesticide use. This announcement came a week after the use of the contentious chemical pesticide glyphosate in the 27-nation bloc was extended for ten more years. In more positive animal welfare news this month, the European Food Safety unveiled an online platform for modeling and predicting the toxicity of chemicals in food as a pioneering alternative to animal testing.

Safeguarding tradition: Italy bans cell-based meat as Florida legislator proposes prohibition
The Italian government voted to ban cultured meat from being produced or sold in the country, which some worried would complicate the regulatory environment surrounding cell-based food. As other countries like the US, UK, Singapore and Israel embrace what’s hailed as a crucial solution to slaughter-free alternative proteins, Italian ministers moved to prohibit the production, sale or import of cultivated meat or animal feed.

Palm oil penalties? Transparency failings could hurt supply chain as EU prepares deforestation rules
An assessment by the Zoological Society of London, UK, claimed the palm oil industry is largely unprepared for the EU’s incoming Deforestation Regulation. The conservation charity warned the industry has a traceability gap, which puts businesses at risk of legal penalties and market exclusions despite wide-scale anti-deforestation pledges.

FiE Innovation Awards: Panel pinpoints leading solutions for human and planetary health
Food Ingredients Europe took place in Germany and we covered the trade show live from Frankfurt, including highlighting the winners of 2023’s innovation awards. We spoke to Roquette about sugar-reduced and fiber-forward plant prototypes, while GoodMills Innovation detailed its spectrum of sustainable cereals for plant-based solutions. Valio also showcased its range of lactose-free milk protein concentrates and ofi highlighted how AI is helping the company innovate. 

December

Cultivated quail: Vow Foods gets “safe to eat” greenlight from Australian food standards regulators
In more cellular agriculture regulatory moves, we turned to Australia and New Zealand. After months of safety investigations, food tech innovator Vow Foods received authorization that cultured quail is safe to eat. This followed an earlier application to Food Standards Australia New Zealand. FSANZ opened a consultation process, giving the public a chance to comment on the cultured quail product as the first example in Australia and New Zealand from the emerging field of cell-based meat production.

dsm-firmenich crowns “comforting and peaceful” peach+ as 2024 flavor of the year
dsm-firmenich declared Peach+ its 12th annual “Flavor of the Year” for 2024 while Pantone named Peach Fuzz as the global color of the year. dsm-firmenich pinpointed “boundless possibilities” for peach. The flavor house identified how food brands will be leveraging the color and flavor throughout 2024, when we will begin to see it showing up in F&B innovations.

Scientists in Denmark developed natural betalain-type food colors using yeast amid clean label color demands (Image credit: DTU).Faith and diet: Religion’s modern influence shaping future foodscapes
Our COP28 coverage flagged how modern religion is impacting future food innovation and how global farming communities warned that funding is inaccessible and certain countries are being overlooked. Discussions also highlighted the rise in agroecology and alternatives to inflated food production.

Food color overhaul: Scientists unlock innovative fermentation process to formulate betanin from yeast
We spoke to scientists who unlocked an innovative fermentation process that produces natural betalain-type food colors using Yarrowia lipolytica, an oleaginous yeast commonly found in cheese. The Denmark-based researchers metabolically engineered the yeast to optimize its cellular metabolism, thereby formulating enhanced betalain-type food colors and reduced by-products, in turn staving off undesirable browning.

Competing with meat: Good Food Institute urges crucial investment boost for UK alt-protein
The Good Food Institute released a report shedding light on the alternative protein ecosystem in the UK, currently still in its “infancy.” Despite 2023 being hailed as a “breakthrough year” for government investment in the alt-protein arena, there were renewed calls for more financial backing so the sector could grow and reach its potential. The organization recommended that between 2025 and 2030, government agencies and organizations should target an average annual investment of £49 million (US$61.58 million) on public R&D to support plant-based, fermentation-made and cultivated meat, seafood, eggs and dairy.

By Gaynor Selby