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.
Regulation & Legislation
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.
Food manufacturers required to make food and drink healthier
Food manufacturers will be required to meet new healthy food standards to help tackle the UK obesity epidemic.
Government pledges support for food and drink sector in UK Trade Strategy
The UK Trade Strategy has vowed to protect the UK’s largest manufacturing sector.
Food and drink sector has mixed reaction to Government Industrial Strategy
The Industrial Strategy sets out a 10-year plan to boost investment and create skilled jobs, with the aim of making it easier and simpler for companies to do business.
Treatment of Grocery suppliers improves for second year running
There were fewer code issues and improved treatment of grocery suppliers by retailers.
Potato firm wins noise dispute with local council
A potato storage facility has had a noise nuisance abatement notice served by the local council overturned in court.
Mars £28bn deal for Kellanova set to face EU investigation
The proposed acquisition of Kellanova by Mars is set to face an EU antitrust investigation, according to Reuters.
Amazon under investigation by grocery watchdog
The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) has launched a targeted investigation into whether Amazon.com, Inc has breached the Groceries Code.
Lords Committee slams delay to junk food ad ban
Lords Committee has criticised the further delay to the advertising restrictions for less healthy foods, contending that voluntary compliance will be ineffective.
Father and daughter sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to animals
A father and daughter have been sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to animals on their farm in Pembrokeshire.
Morley’s wins trade mark case against rival chicken chain
Chicken shop chain Morley’s has won a Court of Appeal ruling protecting its trade mark against rival brand Metro’s.
300 people join M&S lawsuit after data lost
More than 300 people are taking part in a class action lawsuit against Marks & Spencer after their data was lost in a cyberattack over the Easter weekend.
Just 14% claim to fully understand Less Healthy Food regulations
Linney survey finds that majority of F&B businesses don’t feel ready for the next raft of HFSS regulations.
HFSS advert ban delayed till 2026
The UK Government is postponing the rollout of TV and online advert bans on products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) until next year.
Thatchers v Aldi was just the start: Courts are now protecting how brands make us feel
Euan Duncan – a partner in the manufacturing, media and technology team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP – explores how courts are ruling on intellectual property and trade mark disputes within the food and drink industry.
Farm inheritance tax changes should be delayed, argues MP committee
A report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has called on government to delay its reforms to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR).
Devising winning growth strategies in the face of HFSS restrictions
Health and wellness remain top consumer priorities - and governments are responding. Group sales & marketing director for Linney, Fiona Boam, explores how food producers can devise winning strategies in the face of less healthy food restrictions.
Scottish Gov backs food sector in new Programme for Government
The Scottish Government has outlined key measures to support the food and drink manufacturing sector in its newly published Programme for Government.