SNAP overhaul could level another blow against retailers

Already contending with slim margins and intense competition, grocers also must face the possibility of losing food stamp dollars if cuts proposed by the Trump administration take effect.

By Jeff Wells • April 9, 2018

Carrageenan still OK for organic food, USDA rules

An entry published Wednesday in the Federal Register goes against a recommendation from the department's advisory board to remove the controversial emulsifier from the approved ingredients list.

By Megan Poinski • April 5, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Getting reformulation right: How food companies are rethinking ingredients to meet consumer demand

Ingredient suppliers and companies like PepsiCo and Conagra are working closer together to overhaul brands to cater to a rise in healthy eating and expanding GLP-1 use. 

By Food Dive staff

How should cell-cultured food products be regulated?

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democratic lawmaker, is asking a congressional watchdog whether lab-grown meat and other novel products need specific rules to make sure they're safe for consumers.

By Cathy Siegner • April 5, 2018

Arizona mulls longer expiration date for some eggs

The legislator sponsoring the bill said extending the sell-by date for Grade A varieties would help cut back on waste and also may lower prices.

By Cathy Siegner • April 2, 2018

Coffee sold in California must have cancer warning, judge rules

The decision could subject more than 90 companies — including Starbucks, Whole Foods and Target — to millions in fines for failing to inform consumers of acrylamide levels, and may have a ripple effect on the entire segment. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 2, 2018

China puts tariffs on $3B worth of selected US food exports

In the wake of newly announced high taxes on Chinese steel and aluminum imports, American farmers and producers had been nervously eyeing the Asian nation's plan to strike back.

By Cathy Siegner • April 2, 2018

Whole Foods tests signage promoting further discounts for Amazon Prime members

While banners posted last week at a Texas store indicated users would get more special deals, they were removed the following day. The company denied a campaign was in the works.

By Cathy Siegner • April 2, 2018

FDA's Gottlieb will stay the course on food transparency measures

At a conference last week, he said the agency will continue its work on Nutrition Facts, menu labeling and definitions, as well as pursue measures to improve consumer health.

By Megan Poinski • April 2, 2018

Report: Major cities show improved access to fresh foods

An analysis by real estate firm Redfin found New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia offer more grocery options for consumers compared to four years ago.

By Jeff Wells • March 28, 2018

Thinking outside the meal kit box to improve food safety and quality

While these products have become popular, there are challenges that remain. Steritech's Doug Sutton offers advice on ways to address high cancellation rates and falling sales.

By Doug Sutton • March 28, 2018

Monsanto invests $125M in gene-editing startup Pairwise Plants

The new collaboration will use CRISPR to develop crops that are sweeter or more flavorful, have an extended shelf life, or are more tolerant to drought and floods.

By Cathy Siegner • March 28, 2018

App that cuts food waste in the supply chain gets $2M in funding

AgShift, a California startup, has developed a process to quickly inspect produce to gauge its freshness and make sure that it complies with industry and USDA specifications.

By Cathy Siegner • March 27, 2018

Could dairy standards of identity make any difference for plant-based alternatives?

The $1.3-trillion omnibus spending bill has a paragraph giving the FDA 180 days to define these products and come up with ways to require enforcement. 

By Cathy Siegner • March 26, 2018

Would a UK-style soda tax reduce sugar in US beverages?

Coca-Cola and Nestle have already cut sweeteners in some of their drinks, even though the new assessment doesn't go into effect until April 6.

By Cathy Siegner • March 23, 2018

Pork, soybeans and fruit may be in the crosshairs of US-China trade war

China said it would put a 25% duty on U.S. meat imports after President Trump placed tariffs on its steel and aluminum products.

By Cathy Siegner • March 23, 2018

US trade reps: No new junk food warnings in NAFTA

Canada and Mexico are pushing the idea in negotiations following Chile's imposition of warning labels on fatty, salty and sugary products two years ago, The New York Times reports.

By Cathy Siegner • March 22, 2018

Survey: Millennials are the most likely to prefer 'ethical' snacks

U.S. consumers aged 18 to 34 are more concerned than other generations about issues such as sustainable farming, fair trade and zero waste in the products they consume.

By Cathy Siegner • March 19, 2018

Report: Amazon, Supervalu among retailers falling short in pesticide-reduction measures

Whole Foods earned an "A" and Amazon received an "F" in the second scorecard from environmental group Friends of the Earth.

By Cathy Siegner • March 19, 2018

The ongoing evolution of organic: Why it's popular and where it's heading

The food production method surged in the early 2000s as consumers began to see the connection between diet, health and the environment. Today, clean labels and fresher items are spurring growth.

By Cathy Siegner • March 19, 2018

Annie's embraces regenerative farming practices

Parent company General Mills, which will convert 34,000 acres of organic farmland to these standards, will sell limited edition mac and cheese and graham snacks made with soil-friendly wheat. 

By Caroline Macdonald • March 15, 2018

Organization pushes new regenerative organic certification program

The Regenerative Organic Alliance's standards include improving soil conditions, animal welfare and fairness for farmers. It plans to launch a pilot program this year.

By Cathy Siegner • March 15, 2018

USDA withdraws organic animal welfare standards rule

The department's decision to pull the measure drew the ire of the Organic Trade Association, which claimed the agency had "irresponsibly thwarted a fully vetted regulation" supported by the public.

By Cathy Siegner • March 14, 2018

Could robotics help to relieve the farm labor shortage?

Farmers are testing agricultural robots in California and Florida to harvest strawberries and other crops, but widespread adoption will hinge on the practicality and cost-effectiveness of the machines. 

By Cathy Siegner • March 12, 2018

Kellogg, PepsiCo's Frito Lay sued over 'naturally flavored' claims

A California couple says the packaging on Pringles and Lay's Salt and Vinegar chips leads consumers to believe they are buying a product that's free from artificial flavors.

By Alicia Kelso • March 12, 2018

Bug-based snacks boost protein and create better texture

The ingredients tend to be cheap to produce, require few agricultural inputs, produce very little in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and are bland in flavor — but their regulatory status remains a major obstacle.

By Caroline Macdonald • March 8, 2018