Food safety

Despite the laws and technology aiming to prevent it, food contamination and safety risks remain a serious issue. Image Source: Tim Platt/Getty Images

Food contamination risks: Old is not new

By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Despite laws, technology and more information, food contamination and safety risks remain, prompting calls for an integrated and collaborative approach and strong, well-funded regulatory governance.

The AI presents a more efficient way to detect the presence of microplastics in food. Image: Alistair Berg/Getty Images

Finding microplastics with AI: A boon for the food industry?

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic debris which are often found in food. When consumed, they can lead to negative health effects. A recent study has developed a way to use artificial intelligence to help find microplastics more efficiently, which...

GettyImages/Supatman

5 start-ups that caught our eye in 2023

By Flora Southey

From upcycling ‘spent hens’ into flavour enhancers to recreating breast milk in a lab, we round-up five of the most innovate start-ups we interviewed in 2023.

ESFA has launched TKPlate, a new platform that proposes food safety testing without using animals. GettyImages/Cultura RM Exclusive/Sigrid Gombert

Is animal-free testing for food on the horizon?

By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

The European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) develops a new platform to model and predict the toxicity of chemicals, signalling the potential to end animal testing.

The facility will allow cultivated meat companies to perform R&D. Image Source: Newform Foods

African cultivated meat facility to boost low-cost R&D

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

South African cultivated meat startup Newform Foods (formally Mzansi Meat Co.) has announced that it plans to open a demonstration facility for cultivated meat products in South Africa, collaborating with engineering company Project Assignments.

Image: Getty/piyaset

Eight crops endangered by climate change

By Oliver Morrison

From staple crops like potatoes and maize, to cash crops for wealthier customers like cocoa and coffee, climate change is having a widespread impact on global agricultural production.

Image: Getty/dvulikaia

Fresh calls for ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging

By Oliver Morrison

European consumer group BEUC is urging for its calls for a ban on so-called ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging to be adopted ‘as quickly as possible’ after a new compilation of recent product tests by its members found that everyday consumer products...

The hub will work to innovate in the UK's alternative protein sector. Image Source: MEDITERRANEAN/Getty Images

Alternative protein research hub to be opened in UK

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

A new £15 million research hub will look to improve the UK’s alternative protein sector: how to improve taste and texture of alternative proteins, reduce the cost and scale up production of alternative proteins, and even improve best practice.