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

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

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

Oregon grocers back ballot measure to stop future taxes

Albertsons, Costco and Kroger, together with the Northwest Grocery Association, are spending $1.3 million to launch a ballot initiative to ban taxes on food and sugary drinks.

By Dan Alaimo • March 8, 2018

Food firms address sustainability, but need to pick up the pace, report says

Consumers are increasingly voting with their wallets when it comes to company pledges to take action on climate change.

By Cathy Siegner • March 7, 2018

FTC challenges Smucker's purchase of Wesson from Conagra

The agency said the purchase by the jam maker, which owns Crisco, would result in it controlling at least 70% of the market for branded canola and vegetables oils, potentially eliminating price competition.

By Cathy Siegner • March 6, 2018

FDA updates Nutrition Facts label changes, issues more guidance for industry

Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced draft and final guidance documents outlining how to meet the label requirements. He didn't address the compliance deadline.

By Cathy Siegner • March 5, 2018

Employees want Publix to 'free the beard'

The Southeastern U.S. grocer is testing out a change in its facial hair policy after an employee petition, which had more than 18,000 signatures Monday, urged it to relax its standards.

By Erika Kincaid • March 5, 2018

Amazon investors petition SEC to get answers on wasted food

Retailers such as Walmart and Costco are facing similar shareholder concerns.

By Erika Kincaid • March 5, 2018

USDA officials talk SNAP box program with retailers

Secretary of agriculture Sonny Perdue raised the possibility of using retailers' home delivery programs to send the prepackaged food allotments to low-income consumers.

By Dan Alaimo • Feb. 23, 2018

Researchers tattoo data into food's outer layer

New technology out of Rice University uses a laser to transform a food's skin into graphene, allowing manufacturers to create a label out of the product.

By Erika Kincaid • Feb. 21, 2018

Changes loom for USDA's market hog slaughter regulations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service wants to amend federal rules to permit voluntary inspection, allow faster processing and require more pathogen sampling for all slaughter plants.

By Cathy Siegner • Feb. 21, 2018

Clemson researchers developing smart packaging to detect food spoilage earlier

University scientists say the sensors will improve current detection methods such as packaging labels or other materials that change color to indicate spoiled food.

By Cathy Siegner • Feb. 20, 2018

Trump budget proposes major overhaul to food stamp program

If adopted, the changes to the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could impact CPG companies and grocers such as Walmart, Dollar General and Aldi.

By Erika Kincaid • Feb. 13, 2018

Safe Catch snags $5M to extend line of mercury-tested fish

The three-year-old California firm, which has products in almost 10,000 stores in six countries, claims it is the only company to check every single one of its fish for the element.

By Cathy Siegner • Feb. 12, 2018

5 key tactics give food industry leaders the upper hand in a crisis

Brand strategist Sue Reninger with RMD Advertising advises companies to have a crisis management plan in place before a problem occurs. 

By Sue Reninger • Feb. 9, 2018

House passes bill amending menu labeling law

The legislation offers increased flexibility for supermarkets, according to industry groups, but opponents argue it dilutes the standards put forth by the Food and Drug Administration. 

By Jeff Wells • Feb. 8, 2018

USDA study: Breeding 'super chickens' could limit use of antibiotics

Researchers found roosters with higher levels of a pair of proteins had stronger immune systems and were more resistant to pathogens.

By Cathy Siegner • Feb. 6, 2018

Cargill takes stake in livestock-monitoring technology

The proprietary software from Cainthus, an Irish agricultural-technology startup, can recognize individual cows, track key metrics and monitor animal treatment.

By Cathy Siegner • Feb. 5, 2018

Report: Why brands should stop using the term 'natural'

FONA International found 40% of consumers don't trust the claim on food labels, and nearly 48% prefer that food firms no longer use the descriptor. 

By Cathy Siegner • Jan. 29, 2018

USDA's Perdue pushes for food stamp restrictions in the next farm bill

This option is being closely watched by grocery retailers who have a large number of SNAP-recipient customers.

By Cathy Siegner • Jan. 25, 2018

Survey: Most consumers like meat, slaughterhouses not so much

Even though the vast majority of Americans eat meat at least once in a while, nearly half of them said they also supported a ban on slaughterhouses.

By Cathy Siegner • Jan. 25, 2018