Data reveals commodities most vulnerable to food fraud
The Food Authenticity Network (FAN) has revealed the foods most susceptible to adulteration and fraud, labelling rising incident data as ‘concerning’.
Regulation & Legislation
F-gas compliance pressures put food and drink cooling upgrades on hold
A whitepaper from Aggreko has highlighted how legislative demands, coupled with critical operational vulnerabilities, are stalling necessary upgrades and impacting the food and beverage sector’s resilience.
Damaged goods: What food and beverage businesses can do if supplies arrive compromised
It is difficult, in any industry, for buyers to deal with damaged supplies. However, the risk and potential losses for buyers are even more apparent within the food and beverage sector.
Doubts raised over FSA's national food regulation plans
A new plan has been set out by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and agreed by its board which will see the development of a national approach to food safety regulation - but some stakeholders are concerned.
What does the NPM update mean for food businesses?
The Nutrient Profiling Model 2018 introduces some significant changes which food and drink manufacturers will need to be attuned to. Angie Jefferson, RD RNutr and strategic projects manager for the British Nutrition Foundation, outlines what we know so...
Regulatory change is about to speed up - what PRAM means for food and drink manufacturers
If you manufacture food or drink in the UK, the rules that govern your products may soon be able to change more quickly than ever before.
Packaging compliance and hidden liabilities
As food manufacturers engage with the newer rules stipulated by Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility, many are discovering gaps in their historic packaging compliance. Here’s what you need to know.
Zoe fails to overturn ASA ruling on gut supplement ad
Professor Tim Spector says the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) decision to uphold its ruling that Zoe’s Daily30+ supplement advertisement was misleading is a profound failure of logic.
What the EU exports deal exposes about the UK food and drink industry
As the Government’s flagship SPS agreement with the EU shows signs of strain, James Watson, partner at Argon & Co UK, explores what this moment means for UK food and drink manufacturers’ resilience, risk exposure, and readiness for the next shock to hit...
What the 2026 less healthy foods regime means for food and drink brands
Anxiety about the state of the UK’s health, especially the stubbornly high rate of childhood obesity, has long shaped the UK’s approach to regulating food and drink advertising. But early 2026 marked a turning point.
Tories pledge to stamp out ‘Made in the UK’ labelling loophole
The Conservative Party has promised to close what it is calling a “flag loophole” for ‘Made in the UK’ certifications.
What the latest ONS insolvency statistics signal for the food & beverage sector — and options for companies in distress
Frances Coulson, partner and head of insolvency & restructuring at law firm Wedlake Bell examines the latest ONS insolvency rates.
Compliance challenges with EU and UK nitrites/nitrates rules
More than a decade after the World Health Organization classified processed meats such as ham as Group 1 carcinogens, concerns over nitrites/nitrates in food continue to spark debate. Sarah-Jane Dobson, partner at law firm, Ashurst, discusses.
UK’s DRS management organisation appoints senior leaders
Exchange for Change – the industry-led company in charge of leading the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – has made five senior leadership appointments and published logo guidance.
Oatly vs Dairy UK: What now for the ‘Post-Milk Generation?’
Legal expert Anousha Davies offers key takeaways from the Supreme Court’s decision in the Oatly v Dairy UK case for plant-based producers.
Brand protection strategies in an evolving retail landscape
UK retail is operating in a challenging environment. Consumers are cautious, competition is global, and ‘dupe culture’ continues to blur the boundaries between inspiration and imitation, writes Michael Conway, partner in the intellectual property team at...
Oatly: Lost legal battle will ‘stifle’ plant-based alternatives
The oat drink company has lost an on-going legal battle against Dairy UK over the use of the word ‘milk’ in its marketing, which it says will only make things harder for plant-based brands.
HSE cracks down on flour dust in bakeries
The UK health and safety regulator is rolling out a series of inspections to check that businesses are properly protecting workers from dusty ingredients.
Salmonella outbreak lands Tayto Group with £153K fine
Hundreds fall ill following mass salmonella outbreak after eating pork scratchings produced at a Tayto Group Ltd factory in Westhoughton, Bolton.
Nestlé baby food recall: Legal transparency, timeliness and trust restoration after a global safety failure
The recall has since prompted non-profit campaign organisation, Foodwatch, to file a lawsuit. Food Manufacture speaks to law firm Birketts to gain further clarity on what could happen next.
Amsterdam becomes first capital city to ban all meat advertising
Amsterdam is set to ban meat advertising, reflecting a wider cultural shift taking place within the Netherlands.
Lactalis and Danone hit by baby formula toxin recall alongside Nestlé
Concerns over a potentially deadly toxin contamination in a batch of Nestlé baby formula have grown this week, with the existing urgent recall also impacting Danone and Lactalis.
Tesco issues urgent recall over contaminated dog food fears
The retailer has issued an urgent recall notice after a foreign body contamination was detected in Lily’s Kitchen branded dog food cans.
How regulation will reshape the UK food and drink sector in 2026
Legal expert, Andrew Walker, partner in the MMT team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts, highlights the top three regulatory changes set to impact the UK food and beverage industry this year.
EPR: The hidden tax reshaping alcohol marketing strategies
The UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility is poised to transform alcohol aisles and challenge long-standing marketing strategies. Mark Dodds, chair of the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Food, Drink, and Agriculture Group explains how drink businesses...
Downing Street finalises total online ban for junk food ads
The UK Government has rolled out its finalised junk food ad ban, clamping down on TV and online adverts for HFSS foods.
No ‘silver bullet’ to achieve farming profitability
Farming is the only remaining “primary” manufacturing sector that still exists in every county across the country, former National Farmers Union (NFU) president Baroness Minette Batters has said in her Farming Profitability Review.
Ads regulator confirms total online ban and watershed for less healthy foods in final guidance
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has published its final guidance for advertisers concerning the upcoming restrictions on so-called ‘less healthy’ foods.
Food Standards Agency appoints new chief scientific adviser
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has appointed Professor Ian Young as its new chief scientific adviser (CSA).
Everything you need to know about Seasonal Worker visas
There are several challenges and question marks that remain around Seasonal Worker visas, Denise Osterwald, legal director in the immigration team at Birketts LLP explores...
Scotland’s food and drink manufacturers call for action
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland has called on the Government and Parliament to support business growth, build a resilient workforce and work towards net zero.
Employment Rights Bill: SMEs must adapt to avoid costly errors
SMEs face an uphill battle with ‘day-one rights’ for employees and can’t afford to make recruitment mistakes, writes Denis O’Driscoll, managing director at specialist food and drink recruitment firm Corvin Fox.
FSA publishes new food safety code but changes spark debate
The Food Standards Agency has published updated Food Law Codes of Practice and Practice Guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but some of the changes have already ignited debate among food safety circles online.
Supermarket bosses write to Chancellor over food inflation
Nine of Britain’s biggest supermarkets have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves to urge her to exclude shops from the proposed business rates surtax.
FDF calls for food resilience plan in wake of rising prices
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has called for a long-term plan to “build resilience” in the food sector.
Food and drink manufacturers face surge in employment tribunal claims
The food and beverage manufacturing sector is facing pressure from a surge in employment tribunal claims, a leading law firm has revealed.
Judicial review of animal welfare law changes granted
The High Court has granted The Animal Law Foundation permission to challenge the UK Government after it amended an EU welfare law that prohibited the handling of chickens by their legs.
WWF blasts EU for ‘embarrassing’ deforestation law delay
The EU Commission has announced a further delay to the anti-deforestation rules citing IT issues.
CBD gets serious: What the FSA’s consultation means
The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) consultation on the first proposed authorisations for cannabidiol (CBD) food products marks a turning point for the CBD industry in Great Britain.
Sainsbury’s ordered to pay sexual discrimination victim £60k in compensation
Sainsbury’s was ordered to pay a woman who was the victim of sexual discrimination nearly £60,000 in compensation following a tribunal last year.
Brand exemptions defined, as Government clears up junk food ad rules
The Government has published its response to the consultation on the draft advertising regulations around less healthy food and drink advertising on TV and online.
Government opens consultation on banning energy drinks for under-16s
The proposal, which could save tens of millions of pounds, was set out as a government commitment in the 2024 King’s Speech and underscored in Labour’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan.
Labour’s HFSS pivot – what’s actually changing?
With just months to go before promotional deals are banned on products classed as high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), what does Labour’s pledge to repeal the rules mean for food manufacturers?
Consultation launched over CBD authorisation process
A consultation on the proposed authorisation process for cannabidiol (CBD) food products has been launched by the Food Standards Agency.
Factory floor to family time: Landmark review into parental leave
The UK Government has launched a landmark review of the parental leave and pay system, with implications for employers across the food and beverage manufacturing sector.
Uncertainty continues: Where do ‘less healthy’ food and drink ads stand now?
Food and drink manufacturers in the UK are still waiting for clarity on how new advertising restrictions on less healthy food (LHF) products.
Four arrested over cyberattacks targeting Co-op and M&S
Four people have been arrested in relation to recent cyberattacks that targeted Co-op, Marks & Spencer and Harrods.
Investigation launched into Greencore £1.2bn deal for Bakkavor
An investigation has been launched into the proposed £1.2 billion acquisition of Bakkavor by Greencore.
Cadbury’s chocolate producer calls for EUDR delay
Mondelēz has called for a one-year delay to the EU Deforestation Regulation amidst rising cocoa prices.
Green Claims Directive not withdrawn but hanging in the balance
Following major confusion after a shock announcement last month, the European Commission has clarified it has not withdrawn the Green Claims Directive but will do so if microenterprises are not removed from its scope.