Farm Bill moves closer to House floor after committee vote
The 2026 Farm Bill moves out of committee amid bipartisan support, industry praise and mounting consumer and environmental pushback.
Regulation
Half of US shoppers worry about artificial ingredients, want EU-style bans
A new Acosta Group study finds growing demand for transparency and cleaner labels as consumers push for stricter rules on artificial ingredients
Stricter certification aims to bring higher quality to extra virgin olive oils
For NAOOA’s brands, the message is clear: certification now represents more than authenticity; it aims to improve quality, transparency and consumer trust
SNAP’s next chapter could redefine product eligibility across states
The next era of SNAP reform targets how nutrition policy, retail compliance and product eligibility quietly reshape the CPG playbook
Farm Bill markup sparks debate over nutrition and rural policy
The House Agriculture Committee began marking up the 2026 Farm, Food and National Security Act this week, which will impact federal nutrition programs, farmers and rural communities nationwide
RFK Jr targets food dyes, SNAP and UPFs in MAHA rally keynote
The MAHA Rally for Real Food echoed RFK Jr’s agenda to clean up US food, including a formal definition of UPFs expected next month, but critics worry a lack of evidence-based policy will confuse consumers and impact companies’ bottom lines
News Bites
News Bites: Are food policies getting clearer — or more confusing?
America’s food system is facing growing confusion as shifting definitions, patchwork state laws and controversial federal guidelines leave consumers and brands searching for clarity and consistency
The tale of two spin-offs: What the Kellogg breakup really achieved
Kellogg’s 2023 split was sold as a focus play. Less than two years later, both companies had been sold. So what was the split really for?
What do CPG brands need to know about the updated FSMA 204?
FDA’s latest FSMA 204 updates give CPG brands clearer guidance on digital traceability, compliance timelines and new exemptions impacting dairy processing.
Lancet critique of 2025–30 Dietary Guidelines highlights health and policy gaps
The Lancet critique of 2025–30 Dietary Guidelines spotlights SNAP, equity and a widening policy divide
At what point does ‘transparency’ become operational chaos?
In the US, the drive for ingredient transparency is beginning to feel less like steady progress and more like a stress test for the modern food system
A new California bill could change how food ingredients get FDA green light
In the absence of swift federal action, California is proposing to ban food additives it deems unsafe or poorly tested
FDA’s new ‘healthy’ rules are shifting power in the food supply chain
As manufacturers race to meet the FDA’s new ‘healthy’ definition, the real pressure point isn’t reformulation – it’s sourcing, leverage and timing
Industry, brace for change: Momentum builds behind Global Plastics Treaty
After negotiations failed to finalise a global treaty on plastic pollution last year, new hope is on the horizon
Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariff policy
The decision is likely to spark a wave of lawsuits from businesses across the food and beverage industry and beyond
FDA greenlights plant-based egg protein as industry rebuilds after bird flu
The FDA’s GRAS notification clears Plantible Foods to scale production of its RuBisCO-based egg alternative as demand for sustainable, functional proteins grows
FDA allergen threshold guidance could reduce liability for food brands
FDA guidance on allergen thresholds may help brands label products more consistently while reducing risk
As FDA leadership shifts, observers warn of rising food safety risks
A wave of leadership changes at FDA and HHS is testing whether reform efforts will strengthen oversight - or leave the food system more vulnerable
Food-Tech Solutions For A More Sustainable And Secure Food System
Where countries stand on cultivated meat regulation in 2026
A global regulatory snapshot of cultivated meat, explaining who is moving first, why approvals vary by country and what comes next for the category
DGA sweetener warning sparks industry pushback
Dietary Guidelines pose a challenge for formulators around non-nutritive sweeteners
Is aquaculture sustainable? It depends on the system around it
A deeper look shows aquaculture’s climate impact depends less on fish and more on governance
Trump purge at FDA and USDA triggers food safety ‘brain drain’
Government data shows deep staff cuts as food safety leaders warn of fewer inspectors, loss of institutional knowledge and delays in lab and outbreak work
Cheap virgin plastic and imports squeeze US PET recyclers
Experts warn low-cost virgin PET and rising imports are hurting US recycling programs and driving prices to record lows
Whole food now at the heart of US nutrition policy
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines focus on federal programs and procurement to drive whole-food consumption and reduce ultra-processed foods nationwide
FDA to re-examine controversial BHA preservative, a move advocates say is overdue
The long-awaited re-evaluation of butylated hydroxyanisole could preview the agency’s future approach to food additives flagged under federal and state chemical safety proposals
Mike Tyson Super Bowl spot puts MAHA nonprofit – and its backers – in the spotlight
The PSA‑style commercial introduces MAHA Center Inc. to millions of viewers, raising questions about the nonprofit’s opaque funding and deep links to Skyhorse Publishing
Protein, probiotics and clean-label products top targets in new wave of CPG lawsuits
Law firms warn CPG clients to prepare for tougher scrutiny under MAHA-driven policies, Prop 65 claims and state-led investigations targeting ingredients, packaging and label language
FDA eases ‘no artificial colors’ labeling rules, paves way for natural color adoption
FDA eases ‘no artificial colors’ claims, but ambiguity over ‘petroleum-based dyes’ leaves manufacturers cautious
New FDA tool for navigating food contaminants gets its first test
The FDA’s new Total Diet Study Interface is already being used to challenge state-level contamination claims, offering a clearer view of nutrient and contaminant data in the US food supply
Food companies further limit advertising to children across digital media
Coca-Cola, Campbell’s, General Mills and other CPG and fast-food companies expanded voluntary advertising restrictions across digital platforms after research found most children encounter unhealthy food branding on YouTube
Why the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines need a ‘mulligan’ – and how to fix them
This isn’t a food fight, it’s a structural failure, according to experts who say the new US Dietary Guidelines need a reset, not another round of compromises
Plant-based meat laws aren’t misleading, court rules
Court finds that requiring disclaimers like “does not contain meat” violates free speech, marking another victory for Tofurkey, Plant Based Foods Association and the Animal Legal Defense Fund
Finally, a big-name FMCG engages openly on ultra-processed foods
Although admitting it’s a risk, Oatly is addressing the UPF issue head-on
Why the FDA is revisiting gluten disclosure
FDA’s latest Request for Information (RFI) could reshape how gluten-containing ingredients are disclosed – raising new compliance questions for brands and offering clearer signals for consumers who rely on accurate labeling
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
3 steps to future-proof the food system and CPG industry in a ‘critical decade’
As population growth, soil degradation and climate pressures converge, BSI’s Todd Redwood explains why the next 10 years will determine whether the global food system can deliver enough high-quality nutrition, strategic opportunities and next steps for...
News Bites
How consumers are redefining food value beyond price, health and hype
From sensemaxxing and nutrition policy to freeze-dried candy, consumers are reshaping what ‘value’ means in food - moving beyond price, binaries and one-size-fits-all health claims
2026 beef trends: How new Dietary Guidelines are shaping protein demand
Dietary guidance, convenience-driven meals and emerging trends like beef tallow may open new avenues for innovation in beef
US Dietary Guidelines sideline MyPlate in favor of inverted food pyramid
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans spotlight an inverted food pyramid, effectively sidelining MyPlate and sparking debate among nutrition experts and educators
Study finds dietary guidelines linked to forced labor risks in supply chain
Seafood, dairy and red meat carry a higher risk of forced labor, according to a new Tufts and University of Nottingham study that maps labor exploitation across popular US diets
Whole and 2% milk return to schools under Trump-signed nutrition law
The bipartisan legislation expands milk choice in school meals, restoring whole and 2% dairy while keeping plant-based options on the menu
News Bites
From dietary guidelines to cocoa shortages, pressure mounts on CPG brands
This week’s top stories show how nutrition policy debates, shifting views on processing and cocoa supply disruptions are reshaping formulation and sourcing decisions for CPG brands
‘Highly-processed’ or ‘ultra-processed’? New dietary guidelines reignite a definitional food fight
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans avoid the term “ultra-processed foods,” prompting both praise and criticism
Virginia becomes third state to mandate baby food heavy metal testing, raising the compliance bar for manufacturers
As Virginia becomes the third state to regulate heavy metals in baby food, the question for manufacturers is no longer whether to comply, but how high to set the bar
How the Dietary Guidelines may shape product strategy and development
The latest Dietary Guidelines may not reinvent the wheel, but they offer manufacturers a roadmap to balance nutrition, consumer preference and formulation strategy across sweeteners, grains and processed foods, according to one expert
Cellular agriculture funding hits reset and investors want proof, not promises
Capital hasn’t disappeared from cellular agriculture - but investors now want proof the market is ready
USDA ‘two-strikes’ rule on sweets sales threatens retailers accepting food assistance payments
Industry groups seek further guidance following a 90-day grace period on SNAP snacks ban
Cellular ag moves beyond the startup phase
Government support rises even as startups reset
Federal diet guidelines accused of bowing to Big Meat
Doctors and nutrition advocates say new Dietary Guidelines for Americans sideline science in favor of meat and dairy industry
Canada joins global movement on front-of-package food labels
New regulation mandates symbols on foods high in sodium, sugar or saturated fat, in effort to combat chronic disease
Sugar, stocks and scrutiny: Mondelez, Kraft and General Mills caught in Trump’s nutrition reset
The market reaction to Donald Trump’s dietary overhaul isn’t about kale versus cookies – it’s about whether Washington has finally decided the packaged food sector needs firmer rules, not friendlier guidance