Cultivated meat innovators UPSIDE and Wildtype sue Texas over new law
The Lone Star State is the seventh in the nation to ban cultured meat
Regulation
Sustainability September
Compostable packaging gains ground: What CPGs should know about PHA
Innovations in compostable packaging are moving towards a commercial reality, and CPG brands that engage early with PHA solutions will be better positioned to meet sustainability and compliance demands
News Bites: Beef tallow surge, fall flavors beyond pumpkin spice and SNAP impact
This week’s top stories explore beef tallow’s viral rise, new fall flavor trends and how SNAP policy changes are reshaping value-driven innovation
What CPG brands and retailers need to know about immigration enforcement
Be ready: What every CPG brand and retailer should know about immigration audits, raids and compliance
The UPF lawsuit that fizzled – and why the next one might not
A US judge tossed the first big UPF lawsuit, but with mounting science and regulators circling, bakery, snack and cereal brands shouldn’t breathe easy just yet
News Bites
From deregulation to reformulation: MAHA draft, consumer trends and California’s UPF ban in schools
From Washington’s deregulatory MAHA draft to consumers reshaping shopping habits and California move to curb ultra-processed foods in schools, this week brought pivotal shifts for food and beverage stakeholders
Global plastics treaty talks collapse
After years of negotiations, no global regulations to tackle plastic pollution have been agreed
How CPG brands can navigate SNAP waivers and restrictions
As new regulations tighten Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility and states introduce waivers restricting the use of benefits for “unhealthy” foods, CPG brands face both risks and opportunities
California bill targets ultra-processed foods in schools — what’s next for food companies
For CPG manufacturers and foodservice operators, California’s sweeping reforms signal an era of tighter scrutiny on ingredients, marketing and supply chains
Tariffs in flux: What CPG brands need to know about ‘unavailable natural resources’ and cost pressures
The uncertainty and volatility of the US tariff environment are pushing CPG brands to navigate higher input costs while waiting for potential relief on essential commodities
Leaked MAHA draft promotes deregulation and voluntary compliance
Critics warn the Trump administration’s deregulatory approach and preference for voluntary change, reflected in the second draft of t Make America Healthy Again report, could make America ‘sicker, hungrier and more at risk from unsafe food
A uniform UPF definition could bring clarity – and disrupt the food system
A uniform definition of UPFs is a double-edged sword: While a federal standard could bring clarity to fragmented state-by-state definitions, it might also cause significant disruption across the entire food system, according to experts
News Bites
Shifting plates: Ultra-processed food declines as protein innovation and labeling transparency rise
Consumer demand is pushing the food industry toward cleaner labels, greater transparency and innovation that balances nutrition, sustainability and taste
News Bites
From defining ultra-processed foods to SNAP restrictions & tariff pressures: Navigating regulatory and market challenges
This week’s News Bites explores how evolving food definitions, SNAP policy shifts and escalating tariff costs are reshaping the food and beverage landscape
Can a lower Brix standard help orange juice manufacturers?
FDA’s proposal to lower the required sugar content in not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice has been in development for several years, with some manufacturers and industry associations calling it a step forward in improving US citrus production
USDA greenlights SNAP restriction pilots in 6 states, prompting industry pushback
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins signed waivers to prohibit SNAP purchases of ‘unhealthy’ foods in West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas in 2026
FDA-commissioned roadmap pushes for unified produce safety strategy
FDA is calling on produce industry leaders to spearhead a sector-wide transformation in produce safety
Future Food Tech Chicago
Mission Barns charts next steps after winning USDA & FDA nods for cultivated pork fat
Following the greenlight from USDA last week, Mission Barns is not wasting time bringing its animal-free cultured pork to market – it is targeting a Sprouts Farmers Market launch this summer, while simultaneously pursing B2B partnerships
USDA’s plan to relocate workforce to counter ‘bloat’ slammed as ‘sabotage’
The agency, which oversees federally funded nutrition programs and supports food safety, says moving more than 2,000 employees outside of the Washington, DC, area will save money and bring staff closer to the people it serves, but consumer advocates and...
Trump’s FDA clears first foreign cultivated meat firm, Believer
A global food tech disruptor just made history in the US – and it happened under an administration not known for regulatory expansion
A federal definition of ultra-processed foods is in the works, industry weighs in
A unified definition of UPFs could help fill in the nutrition and health gaps that NOVA misses
FDA’s 2025 Food Agenda: What industry must know
With mounting pressure over synthetic dyes, chemical safety and post-market oversight, what does the FDA’s new 2025 Human Foods Program guidance mean for US food and drink businesses?
Is GRAS reform imminent? Lawmakers and regulators push for tighter food safety oversight
Proposed legislation would require manufacturers to notify FDA of GRAS determinations, mandate public comment periods and require routine post-market reassessment of chemicals in food and packaging
FDA to scrap ‘obsolete’ food standards to boost transparency
Standards of identity across dairy, fruit and vegetables and bakery are being phased out - here’s why
Trump administration sues California over high egg prices
President Donald Trump’s administration blames California’s red tape for high egg prices and launches lawsuit
FDA redraws the rainbow to dye another day
The storm over artificial dyes is clearing and the FDA is ushering in a brighter, cleaner food palette. With Red No 3 fading fast and new colours blooming, brands are now racing to catch the rainbow
FDA urges infant and children’s food brands to improve recall communications under Operation Stork Speed
The agency pushes for ‘radical transparency’ after years of high-profile recalls, safety gaps and shortages
Synthetic dyes are out. Here’s who’s in and how they’re achieving it
Major food companies like General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Conagra and Smucker are leading a sweeping shift away from synthetic colours. Here’s where the US food industry stands right now
11 major moves in the synthetic food dye fight
From FDA bans to brand reformulations, here’s how 2025 became the tipping point in the fight to remove synthetic food dyes from America’s diet
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...
Past the PFAS deadline: Hershey’s dual lawsuits highlight rising risk for snack brands
The FDA’s PFAS deadline has passed and US brands are now under intense scrutiny. Hershey’s two simultaneous class-action lawsuits underscore just how high the stakes have become for the industry
More CPG giants pledge to ditch synthetic dyes as pressure from consumers mounts
JM Smucker, Nestlé USA and Conagra Brands, Inc, join the growing list of large CPG food and beverage manufacturers – including Kraft Heinz and General Mills – committed to removing artificial colors from their products in the US
News Bites
Regulators, reform and rebuttals: This week’s top headlines
From regulatory shakeups to science-backed rebuttals, this week’s top food stories spotlight mounting scrutiny over mega-mergers, misinformation on seed oils and the FDA’s push for clearer, healthier labels
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
Looming Texas hemp ban bill worries beverage brands
The Hemp Beverage Alliance is urging the Texas Governor to veto a hemp ban bill: highlighting the potential of hemp beverages to provide consumers with an attractive alcohol-free alternative
The gold standard: How product developers can rise to the MAHA challenge
The US’ MAHA Commission is putting weak science and vague health claims on notice. Brands must now back every bite with credible, peer-reviewed research
California’s soda tax war reaches crucial battle in Santa Cruz
The momentum behind California soda taxes came to an abrupt halt in 2018 with the introduction of the Keep Groceries Affordable Act. But Santa Cruz defied the legislation and introduced a new soda tax: an action it is now preparing to defend
FDA clears OmniActive’s Lutemax Free Lutein for infant formula
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted OmniActive Health Technologies GRAS (generally regarded as safe) clearance for the use of Lutemax Free Lutein in infant formula.
News Bites
David Protein’s acquisition spurs lawsuit, Hershey’s nostalgia play and the sugar policy shake-up
This week’s round up features stories on David’s Epogee acquisition which faces an antitrust lawsuit, Hershey’s flavor-forward launches and the impact of SNAP restrictions on better-for-you soda and candy
Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act set for Senate vote
US dairy has been lobbying to get whole and 2% milk back in schools – and the odds are in favor of passing the bill this year
Pressure points: How policy, pricing and preference are reshaping food
Food and beverage continues to face complex challenges driven by economic, policy and consumer shifts
Industry trade group answers RFK’s call for ‘radical transparency’ for food ingredients and enhancing GRAS notification process
The Consumer Brands Association argues the CPG industry has been ‘putting the transparency into ‘radical transparency’ for decades,’ but acknowledges it and industry can do more to educate consumers and regulators about ingredient and food safety
MAHA commission points finger at ultra processed foods for children’s poor health
The Make America Healthy Again commission’s highly-anticipated first report published May 22 blames “the rise in childhood chronic disease” in part on “excessive consumption” of ultra-processed food, “distorted nutrition research and marketing” and...
FDA inspections resume with help from states and AI as staff exodus continues
Amid concerns about FDA’s capacity to meet safety mandates following the departure of 3,500 employee since January, the agency signals a new direction for inspections and ability to do more with less thanks in part, it says, to new tools and processes
USDA deregulation efforts of organic standards threaten industry growth and trust in seal
The Organic Trade Association warns USDA’s proposal to rollback new rules for organic pet food and mushrooms without consulting industry could choke market access and undermine the program’s collaborative foundation
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...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Prop 65 pushback: Landmark ruling curbs cancer warnings for dietary acrylamide
A landmark federal court decision to block mandatory cancer warnings for dietary acrylamide under California’s controversial Prop 65 is a major win for food manufacturers – and could offer protective precedence for compelling warnings based on shaky...
Safety questions emerge as RFK, congressman spar over fast-tracked natural dyes
In heated budget hearing, HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr defended FDA’s recent approval of three natural dyes to replace synthetic alternatives as a sign the agency would work with the food industry, but the speed of the approval triggered questions...
HHS’ RFK Jr: Upcoming dietary guidelines ‘will reflect the public interest’ not ‘special interests’
FDA and HHS could soon publish the much anticipated 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines, after Trump administration appointees have examined the recommendations ‘line-by-line’ and potentially recast them to be more consumer-focused rather than aimed at policy...