Food News

Heritage Meets Ambition in Landmark Deal (Image Credits: Unsplash) Two century-old family businesses in the bakery sector took a significant step toward consolidation last week. Heritage Meets Ambition in Landmark Deal Puratos and Dawn Foods announced on March 10, 2026, that they entered a definitive agreement for Puratos to acquire Dawn Foods, pending regulatory approvals.[1][2] The transaction, one of the largest in the bakery ingredients industry this year, unites firms founded just a year apart – Puratos in 1919 in Belgium and Dawn Foods in 1920 in Jackson, Michigan.[3] Puratos, headquartered in Belgium with a U.S. base in Pennsauken, New … Read more

Transforming the Iconic PB&J into a Portable Treat (Image Credits: Unsplash) General Mills’ Nature Valley brand recently unveiled expansions to its soft-baked bar lineup, drawing on familiar flavors to appeal to families seeking convenient snacks.[1] Transforming the Iconic PB&J into a Portable Treat Consumers have long cherished the peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a staple of school lunches and quick meals. Nature Valley captured this essence with its new Soft Baked PB&J Bar, converting the classic combination into an easy-to-grab format. The bars come in two varieties that evoke those timeless tastes. Peanut Butter & Strawberry offers a fruity … Read more

Nearly Half of Consumers Chase More Protein Daily (Image Credits: Unsplash) The protein sector in 2026 has evolved rapidly, embedding high-protein elements into routine consumer diets far beyond athletic circles.[1] Nearly Half of Consumers Chase More Protein Daily A striking 48% of consumers around the world expressed a desire to ramp up their protein consumption this year.[1] This trend reflects a broader pivot where protein links directly to everyday wellness benefits such as prolonged fullness, steady energy levels, and support for healthy aging. Sports nutrition products once targeted intense workouts for just 23% of users. Instead, 63% turned to them … Read more

Immediate Gains Drive the Wellness Surge (Image Credits: Unsplash) Consumers in the nutrition and food sectors increasingly prioritize tangible daily improvements over abstract visions of extended lifespans. Immediate Gains Drive the Wellness Surge A striking 27% of consumers worldwide now equate nutrition with maintaining energy levels all day long.[1] This marks a pivotal change from past emphases on longevity. People seek products that deliver quick wins in mood elevation, stress reduction, and restorative sleep. Such demands reflect a holistic approach blending emotional and physical health. Surveys reveal that 44% of global consumers express concerns about their mental wellbeing.[1] Sleep challenges … Read more

Scaling Up for Sustained Growth (Image Credits: Flickr) Brookings, South Dakota – French dairy company Bel Group initiated a major $200 million expansion at its Babybel cheese plant this week, positioning the facility to double its production capacity in response to robust U.S. market demand.[1][2] Scaling Up for Sustained Growth The groundbreaking ceremony on March 11 marked one of Bel Group’s largest manufacturing investments in the United States. The project targets the Brookings facility, which the company acquired in 2012 and began operating in 2014. Once complete, annual output of Mini Babybel cheese will rise from 10,000 tons to 20,000 … Read more

Supply Shocks Propel Search for Alternatives (Image Credits: Just-food.com) Startups are capturing investor attention with innovative alternatives to traditional cocoa, addressing persistent supply disruptions and environmental pressures in the global chocolate market. Supply Shocks Propel Search for Alternatives Cocoa prices soared to a record $12,906 per metric tonne in December 2024, fueled by crop failures in major producers Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which supply over 60% of the world’s cocoa.[1] Climate events, pests, and diseases triggered deficits that strained manufacturers. Volumes in Barry Callebaut’s cocoa division fell more than a fifth in a recent quarter as demand softened amid elevated … Read more

A Fresh Warning Emerges from Routine Testing (Image Credits: Foodsafetynews.com) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated its safety alert to include one more dietary supplement contaminated with toxic yellow oleander, a development that underscores ongoing risks in the market for certain herbal products.[1][2] A Fresh Warning Emerges from Routine Testing Public health laboratories recently confirmed yellow oleander in yet another product, prompting the FDA to add it to its warning list on March 11, 2026.[1] This marks the latest entry in a roster that now totals 29 items, many marketed for weight loss.[2] The newest addition, Chupa Panza … Read more

Product Faces Immediate Withdrawal (Image Credits: Unsplash) Canada – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a recall for Katilo brand Classic Roomy after laboratory tests indicated possible Salmonella presence in the dairy product.[1][2] Product Faces Immediate Withdrawal The recall targets a specific batch of Classic Roomy, a 200-gram dairy item packaged in plastic. Authorities identified the product through its UPC code of 6 223004 833045, along with best before dates of Pro 04 FEB 2026 and Epx 03 FEB 2027, and lot code P. N0. 35.[1] This Class 2 recall signals a moderate health risk, prompting swift action from retailers. … Read more

Understudied Pathogen Gains New Scrutiny (Image Credits: Unsplash) French West Indies researchers have pinpointed striking genetic variations in Salmonella Panama, a bacterium linked to widespread foodborne outbreaks in the region. Understudied Pathogen Gains New Scrutiny A comprehensive genomic analysis exposed the hidden complexities of Salmonella enterica serovar Panama, long overlooked despite its role in both gastrointestinal and invasive infections worldwide.[1]00078-3/fulltext)[2] Scientists examined 836 genomes collected over nearly a century, from 1931 to 2019, spanning 45 countries across all continents. This effort revealed four distinct monophyletic clades, each tied to specific geographies. The work provided a baseline for tracking this serovar’s … Read more

Nearly 150 Cases Signal Urgent Action (Image Credits: Unsplash) In 2025, Moldova faced a significant uptick in Salmonella infections that tested the limits of its public health response.[1][2] Nearly 150 Cases Signal Urgent Action By late August 2025, almost 147 individuals had fallen ill from Salmonella, highlighting a persistent challenge that began building in prior years.[1] Health officials noted a rise in cases during 2023 and 2024, with Salmonella emerging as a top cause of foodborne hospitalizations and fatalities, often complicated by antibiotic resistance.[2] This outbreak demanded innovative tools beyond traditional methods. Moldova’s National Agency of Public Health (NAPH) stepped … Read more