Food News

Cargill to launch cocoa-free chocolate in US – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels) Cargill has announced the upcoming launch of NextCoa, a cocoa-free chocolate developed in partnership with Voyage Foods. The product relies on grapeseeds as its primary ingredient and targets food manufacturers seeking greater stability in their ingredient sourcing. This development arrives as companies look for reliable alternatives amid ongoing pressures on traditional cocoa supplies. Partnership Drives the New Formulation The collaboration between Cargill and Voyage Foods centers on creating a chocolate alternative that maintains familiar taste and texture profiles. NextCoa emerges from this joint effort, … Read more

CMS launches initiative to speed electronic prior authorization adoption – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash) Healthcare providers have long navigated a patchwork of manual processes when seeking approval for certain treatments and services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services now aims to change that dynamic with a targeted push toward digital tools. This latest step forms part of a broader federal effort to modernize how clinical decisions are reviewed and approved across the industry. Background on Prior Authorization Challenges Prior authorization requirements exist to ensure that medical services meet established clinical guidelines before they are delivered. … Read more

Signant Health Acquires Ametris to Combine Wearable Data and eCOA Technology – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels) Clinical research has long struggled with fragmented information sources that force sponsors to juggle separate vendors for patient feedback and sensor readings. Signant Health has now acquired Ametris, the company previously known as ActiGraph, to bring those two data streams under one platform. The transaction, whose financial terms remain undisclosed, targets a persistent bottleneck in decentralized and hybrid trial designs where participants contribute information from everyday environments rather than clinic visits. Why Sponsors Need a Single Evidence Platform Pharmaceutical companies … Read more

Innovaccer 2026 Payer AI Report: Nearly 80% of Insurers to Buy or Co-Develop AI Capabilities – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay) Health plan leaders have quietly reversed course on how they intend to bring artificial intelligence into their operations. Where many once favored building tools in-house, a fresh survey shows most now lean toward buying capabilities or working alongside vendors. The change reflects both the complexity of modern data systems and the pressure to deliver measurable results quickly. From Internal Builds to Collaborative Models The latest findings from Innovaccer’s survey of 63 C-suite executives at major insurers … Read more

KLAS 2026 EHR Market Share Report: Epic Gains as Oracle Health Faces Third Year of Losses – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels) The number of hospitals making EHR purchase decisions fell 40 percent in 2025 compared with the prior year, according to the latest KLAS Acute Market Share Report. Health systems largely paused major system replacements and redirected spending toward artificial intelligence tools and operational improvements that promised quicker financial returns. The slowdown left most vendors with fewer opportunities, yet one company continued to expand while another recorded its third straight year of net losses. Market-Wide Pause … Read more

Voices: Miki Kapoor, CEO, PPL – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay) States across the country face mounting pressure to deliver long-term care amid an aging population and persistent shortages of traditional caregivers. Self-directed care programs, which let individuals choose and manage their own support at home, are drawing renewed interest as a practical response. Miki Kapoor, chief executive of PPL, argues that these models combine personal choice with stronger accountability and lower overall costs for Medicaid programs. Shifting Away From Institutional Models For decades, long-term care in the United States centered on large agencies and institutional settings … Read more

Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions Impacting LGBTQ+ Health – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash) The Trump administration has begun issuing executive actions that touch on federal health programs, workplace rules, and research priorities. Observers note that some of these steps carry provisions with possible consequences for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking medical care or coverage. A specialized monitoring effort now compiles each order by date, extracts the sections most relevant to health access, and records any lawsuits that follow. This approach helps clarify which directives are already in effect and which remain subject to court review. It also … Read more

24 Recipes to Cook This Summer – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash) Summer arrives with longer evenings and a natural pull toward simplicity in the kitchen. Home cooks often seek dishes that deliver the relaxed feeling of a getaway, using peak-season ingredients and minimal steps to create meals that feel special without demanding much time. The right recipes turn routine dinners into moments of genuine enjoyment, letting the season’s warmth take center stage. Why These Dishes Capture the Season’s Spirit Recipes built around fresh produce and light preparations align perfectly with summer’s slower pace. They draw on … Read more

Searching for an Actually Good Gluten-Free Pizza and More Readers Questions – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash) Becky Hughes has resumed her role fielding detailed questions from readers about restaurant choices. Her latest round of responses centers on the ongoing search for gluten-free pizza that meets high standards for taste and texture. The column continues to draw submissions that reflect precise preferences and local dining challenges. Why Gluten-Free Pizza Remains a Frequent Topic Readers often describe past disappointments with crusts that lack structure or flavor. Hughes addresses these concerns by highlighting establishments that have refined their recipes … Read more