GRAS under the microscope: FDA eyes reform as consumer trust wavers
CPG brands could face greater regulatory oversight, higher expectations for transparency and new risks if ingredient safety communication falls short
Dairy
UPF litigation: What brands need to know now
Early preparation, thorough documentation and proactive governance remain the best defense in a landscape where litigation and regulation related to ultra-processed food are still evolving
California’s UPF school ban heads to Gov. Newsom’s desk, sparks divided reactions
The legislation received bipartisan support to ban ultra-processed foods in California public schools and is on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom, while industry stakeholders express mixed support on economy, school infrastructure and nutrition
Nestlé investors demand early exit of chairman Paul Bulcke amid CEO scandal
Investors want chairman Paul Bulcke out now. With trust shaken and shares slipping, pressure mounts for Pablo Isla to take the reins early
Unilever, Mars, Ferrero & Kraft Heinz: A story of spin-offs, splits, mergers & acquisitions
From Kraft Heinz’s split to Mars and Kellanova’s mega-merger, the world’s biggest food brands are reshaping the industry
FDA’s ‘Stork Speed’ initiative draws both praise and skepticism from formula stakeholders
Can FDA move at ‘Stork Speed?’ Industry voices support – and doubt
New flavours won’t cut it: Inside Magnum Co’s innovation playbook
Unilever’s soon-to-be-demerged business is committed to growing the ice cream market, and innovation will play a major role
Global guidance on meat and dairy consumption in the works
What’s the optimal intake of animal-source foods?
Up the food chain
Bel’s venture chief Caroline Sorlin on getting precision fermentation right
Bel Group plans on succeeding in animal-free dairy where others have failed. For chief venture officer Caroline Sorlin, who leads on Bel’s food-tech partnerships, timing is key
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
Rabobank Global Dairy Top 20: Big shifts brewing amid M&A activity
Rabobank’s annual list has few surprises this year but pending M&A activity may spell major changes in 2026
Is food and drink failing the planet? Share your view now
The global food and drink industry’s biggest sustainability call to action has kicked off in the first month-long Sustainable September event
Organic milk is thriving but opportunities still await
There are white spaces across categories and formats plus major M&A potential, says RaboResearch
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
Cell-based dairy moves closer to market with Opalia-Hoogwegt tie-up
Start-up Opalia is on a mission to prove its cell-cultured milk can be used to make an entire range of dairy products: from cheese to ice cream
Retail realities: Modest food and beverage growth amid shifting consumer priorities
Divergence across income and demographic groups, heightened health consciousness and evolving definitions of value are reshaping retail strategies
What makes a GLP-1-friendly yogurt drink? Danone tells all
By formulating a dairy drink that specifically caters for weight loss medication users, Danone has set a new standard with Oikos Fusion
What’s new in dairy? New product launches
We take a look at some of the notable new releases in recent weeks . . .
Third time lucky? Danone, Lifeway in fresh acquisition talks
After twice failing to reach an agreement, Danone and Lifeway Foods are talking again - but is a deal in sight?
Good Food Collective rallies brands for stronger labeling standards, transparent packaging
The coalition aims to unite brands around more responsible labeling and ingredient standards with proactive participation in regulatory outcomes
What’s the scoop on ice cream trends?
The dog days of summer are a natural time to serve up the scoop on ice cream trends
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
5 trends driving specialty cheese sales towards $9.2 billion by 2030
Friesland Campina, Cypress Grove and The Melting Pot unpack how they balance consumer demand for health, indulgence and value to drive sales of specialty cheese, despite its premium pricing, in a difficult economy
What’s brewing in the US coffee creamer space?
Refrigerated coffee creamers are a thriving category fueled by consumer appetite for barista-style drinks. Here’s what’s driving innovation
Danone CEO advocates caution in Oikos Protein Shakes expansion
The group wants to validate repeat purchase behavior before committing to a nationwide roll-out in the US
Kroger pilots with food waste reduction app to tackle shrink and affordability
Flashfood’s partnership with Kroger tests how the model performs in a real-world mix of store formats and shopper needs
How AI integration is boosting dairy farms and value chains across Africa
Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping dairy processors in Sub Saharan Africa to optimize supply chain logistics, enhance traceability of products and to monitor the health of animals in real time
Cheese trends: American cheese slumps, specialty thrives
US shoppers seek to elevate their cheese experience by exploring new flavors and formats
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
Microplastics are ‘widespread’ in cheese: here’s how this happens
Cheese is ripe in microplastics, a groundbreaking study revealed
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
Unilever names Ben & Jerry’s new CEO and responds to hiring controversy
Industry veteran Jochanan Senf will lead the brand globally as Unilever hit back at rumors over his selection
Danone-owned Kate Farms shakes up high-protein space with GLP-1 drinks
The company’s new range promises to elevate nutritional support for consumers on weight management medications
Fortified dairy: What you need to know, from methods to consumer perceptions
Fortifying dairy products with bioactives such as vitamins and probiotics not only enhances nutritional value but paves the way for next-gen formulations
‘Return Lifeway to the people who own it’: What now for the scandal-plagued kefir brand
Lifeway Foods board members are battling for control after the Smolyanskys’ family feud intensified
From GLP-1 to gut health: Real California Milk Excelerator 2025 seeks dairy disruptors
Start-ups behind scalable dairy innovations stand to benefit from financial, mentorship and marketing support to bring their products to market
Oatly bets on coffee and science to fuel plant-based milk’s comeback
Oatly defends processed food, doubles down on coffee and pushes for the next wave of plant-based milk growth
Unilever slams Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit
Unilever wants to throw out B&J’s explosive case, which includes allegations of censorship and firing its CEO
Hybrid milk hits the shelves – but will it fly with consumers?
One of Europe’s largest supermarkets is selling hybrid milk alongside traditional dairy at price parity – but will consumers bite? We learn more from PlanetDairy CEO Jakob Skovgaard
Danone on America’s ‘coffee evolution’ and ongoing growth in creamers
From tapping into the CoffeeTok culture to elevating plant-based creamers, how is one of the major coffee creamer producers moving the needle on innovation?
dsm-firmenich taps Meala to elevate texturized pea protein with clean-label functionality
The partnership leverages Meala’s patented technology to simplify formulation while meeting the technical demands of plant-based and hybrid food applications
News Bites
Dairy repositioned: Functional claims, filtration tech and global flavors drive category growth
Brands across milk, cheese and value-added dairy are repositioning their portfolios to emphasize functionality, global flavors and advanced processing
Americans love sweetness – but also want to scale it back
While consumers gravitate toward sweet flavors, their enjoyment of sugar is often tempered by cognitive dissonance — a tension that experts say can be eased through portion control and strategic pack sizing
‘A provocative move’: Canada passes bill to protect dairy in trade talks
Bill C-202 has caused division at home but will become law after completing its passage through parliament
Pioneers
High-protein game changers: Slate Milk
In a new article series, we spotlight some of the companies that are driving innovation in high-protein dairy . . .
NielsenIQ integrates FoodHealth Score to bring nutrition transparency to retail and CPG
The integration is designed to give retailers, manufacturers and researchers new insight into product healthfulness alongside consumer behavior data
Canada U-turns on supply management policy protection
A bill that would make Canada’s supply management policy non-negotiable in trade talks is quickly progressing through parliament
Dairy Innovations
California Milk Advisory Board targets health-minded snackers with ‘Snack for Real’ campaign
The campaign focuses on health, nostalgia and natural ingredients
Dairy Innovations
From stress to success: Inside Horizon Organic’s caregiver-centered campaign
Dairy manufacturer Horizon Organic turns a parental pain point into marketing power with an expanded campaign that reassures caregivers and helps them celebrate milestones
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What is behind the uptick in milk consumption and dairy sales more broadly?
Dairy milk’s long winter may be ending with sales and units increasing for the first time in decades thanks to consumer demand for products that support their wellness goal and offer more nutritional bang for the buck