How to safely harness generative AI for productivity gains in food and beverage businesses

There’s a lot of promise for the technology, but it could cause more harm than good if it’s not implemented properly.

By Thor Olof Philogène • Oct. 25, 2023

Meat snack maker fined $140K, faced shipping restrictions for child labor violations

The U.S. Department of Labor is ramping up enforcement activity and putting employers "on notice" as it reports a significant rise in the number of children illegally working at facilities.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 13, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Food Dive

Check out a selection of articles about some of the biggest trends and news — from McCormick’s reformulation strategy to the impact of GLP-1s  — shaping the food industry in 2026.

By Food Dive staff

California makes history as first state to ban food additives linked to disease

The state’s Food Safety Act takes effect in 2027 and will prohibit the sale of common ingredients in products like candy and soda.

By Elizabeth Flood • Oct. 12, 2023

Guardians of the franchise: Safeguarding success in the competitive landscape

Since launching a new product offers only one chance at success, optimizing it to its fullest potential becomes crucial.

By Katie Fellows • Oct. 11, 2023

US pea protein producers undercut by cheap Chinese imports

Products made with the ingredient are growing in popularity, but domestic manufacturers are in “grave peril,” producer Puris claims.

By Elizabeth Flood • Oct. 5, 2023

Nestlé vows to increase sales of healthier foods by 2030

The world’s largest food company said it wants to boost sales of better-for-you products by as much as $27.3 billion by the end of this decade, a 50% increase from 2022.

By Christopher Doering • Sept. 29, 2023

How a government shutdown will impact food safety, nutrition

Unless Congress reaches a deal on spending before Sunday, programs and services overseen by the FDA and the USDA could end or be curtailed in the coming days and weeks.

By Chris Casey • Sept. 29, 2023

Consumers back diet colas from Coke, PepsiCo despite aspartame’s possible ties to cancer

Since May, consumption intent for top brands in the category grew by 2%, outpacing regular sodas, according to a HundredX survey.

By Christopher Doering • Sept. 21, 2023

Dairy industry teams with cybersecurity group to beef up defenses

As cyber crimes become more prevalent, the International Dairy Foods Association joins other food companies in efforts to share information and bolster protections.

By Nathan Owens • Sept. 19, 2023

What Biden’s cannabis rescheduling review could mean for food and beverage

Analysts said the administration’s recommended update will not spur greater availability of items, even as demand for the products continues to grow.

By Chris Casey • Sept. 12, 2023

Danone joins corporate alliance to turn food waste into renewable energy

The dairy giant and other industry leaders are partnering with Vanguard Renewables to mitigate climate impacts by using anaerobic digesters on dairy farms.

By Nathan Owens • Sept. 11, 2023

Cargill exec named IFT board president

Sean Leighton will assume the position as the organization deals with safety issues around items such as cultivated meat and alternative proteins.

By Elizabeth Flood • Sept. 6, 2023

FDA names former environmental official as top food regulator

James Jones, the agency’s first deputy commissioner for human foods, will set and advance priorities related to safety and innovation.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 23, 2023

Miyoko’s Creamery’s new CEO is going ‘back to the basics’

Having served in the position for just two weeks, Stuart Kronauge is looking to simplify the brand’s message to reach a broader consumer base.

By Elizabeth Flood • Aug. 22, 2023

Gen Z’s complicated relationship with food comes down to taste, affordability

Ketchum research found while sustainability, animal welfare and LGBTQ rights are important factors for these consumers, they are not significant purchase drivers.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 16, 2023

Beverage makers respond to EPA’s draft plastic pollution prevention strategy

PepsiCo, American Beverage, the Consumer Brands Association and others weighed in on defining key terms like “single-use,” EPR policies, recycled content research and more.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 14, 2023

From prediction to production: A timeline of cultivated meat

After roughly two decades of research and development, there are dozens of companies transforming the product from science fiction to reality.

By Elizabeth Flood • July 31, 2023

Yough aims to disrupt frozen pizza space with the help of Greek yogurt

The brand said its higher protein dough helps it stand out against crusts made with chickpeas and cauliflower — as it plots a future expansion into other baked goods.

By Chris Casey • July 21, 2023

USDA teams with states to crack down on anti-competitiveness in food

The department will work with more than 30 attorneys general to address practices viewed as unfriendly to consumers, even as economists remain mixed on consolidation’s effect on inflation.

By Sarah Zimmerman • July 19, 2023

DOJ fails to block US Sugar’s $315M purchase of Imperial Sugar

An appeals court in Philadelphia said the government failed to prove the purchase, first announced in 2021, would raise prices for U.S. consumers and businesses.

By Chris Casey • July 17, 2023

Aspartame may cause cancer, but is safe within specific limits - WHO says

Conflicting information from two groups at the health organization is likely to sow further confusion over whether it’s safe to consume the sugar alternative used in about 6,000 products globally.

By Christopher Doering • July 14, 2023

Traceability company Oritain raises $57M to spur growth

Food and beverage producers, such as A2 Milk and Nestlé’s Nescafe, depend on the firm to assure customers that the items they purchase are genuine and sourced ethically.

By Christopher Doering • July 12, 2023

PepsiCo struggles to advance its plastic sustainability goals

The food and beverage company’s ESG report attributed its increased use of virgin plastic from nonrenewable sources, in part, to “limited availability and high cost of recycled content.”

By Katie Pyzyk • July 6, 2023

Tyson drops ‘no antibiotics ever’ label on chicken products

The poultry giant said it is reinstating the use of some antibiotics, but not ones that are “important to human medicine.”

By Chris Casey • July 5, 2023

Food waste solutions must not shy away from processing, IFT says

The group said technology needs to play a larger role if efforts to reduce the 1 billion tons of food lost each year are going to be successful.

By Chris Casey • June 28, 2023