Food News

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

48 Infants Hospitalized in Botulism Outbreak Sparks Urgency (Image Credits: Pexels) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro introduced legislation this week to address longstanding vulnerabilities in the U.S. infant formula supply chain.[1][2] 48 Infants Hospitalized in Botulism Outbreak Sparks Urgency A recent infant botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart formula sickened 48 babies across multiple states, with every case requiring hospitalization.[2][3] The incident, involving Clostridium botulinum contamination, highlighted critical gaps in testing and oversight, prompting swift legislative action. Symptoms appeared between August and November 2025, including muscle weakness, poor feeding, and breathing difficulties. Federal health officials declared the outbreak over in February 2026, but … Read more

Cocoa Volatility Delays Relief for Major Players (Image Credits: Unsplash) Mondelēz International adapts its chocolate strategy by emphasizing bars with fillings and upscale options while high cocoa expenses continue to pressure margins.[1] Cocoa Volatility Delays Relief for Major Players Cocoa spot prices dropped sharply from record highs reached in late 2024, yet hedging commitments lock in elevated costs for Mondelēz until 2027.[1] The company, second-largest in the $147 billion global chocolate market, secures supplies a year ahead, shielding it from sudden swings but prolonging the financial strain.[1] Europe and emerging markets, accounting for 95% of its chocolate sales, bear the … Read more

Appetite Suppression Sparks Spending Drops (Image Credits: Pixabay) Weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy have driven consumers toward more deliberate eating patterns, forcing the food industry to confront profound changes. Appetite Suppression Sparks Spending Drops Households starting GLP-1 treatments saw grocery spending fall by an average of 5.3 percent within six months.[1][2] Higher-income families experienced even steeper declines, exceeding 8 percent. These reductions persisted for at least a year among ongoing users, though they tapered over time. Restaurant visits, particularly to fast-food outlets, dropped by about 8 percent as well. Researchers observed that overall food purchases simply decreased, … Read more

From Interim Leadership to Permanent Role (Image Credits: Unsplash) Minneapolis – General Mills appointed Jonathan Ness as Chief Supply Chain Officer, effective March 16, 2026.[1] From Interim Leadership to Permanent Role Ness stepped into the interim chief supply chain officer position in late January 2026, guiding the company’s operations during a transitional period.[1] He now assumes the role permanently, overseeing manufacturing, logistics, sourcing, and planning on a global scale.[2] This move follows the departure of Paul Gallagher, who held the position since June 2021 and joined 3M in February 2026 as enterprise supply chain group president.[3] Ness reports directly to … Read more