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The Food Institute
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- 1
The programme for the upcoming Night of Arts in St Petersburg has been announced. It includes more than 20 events, among them a tour of the secrets of the Meshkov House, lectures on food and culture, and a new research exhibition titled 'In the Forests'. The city's cultural institutions are preparing a wide-ranging schedule of evening activities for residents and visitors.
- 2Podcast debate: food additives versus a varied diet▼🔬 Co ma większe znaczenie dla zdrowia: unikanie dodatków do żywności czy odpowiednio zróżnicowana dieta? W nowym odcinku
A new podcast episode from the Polish science show Człowiek 2.0 features professor Justyna Cybulska of the Institute of Agrophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, an expert on food ingredients. The episode asks which matters more for health: avoiding food additives or eating a properly varied diet. Listeners are sharing the episode among Polish-speaking science and nutrition audiences.
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News from Martinique is drawing attention on several fronts. A resident of Sainte-Luce was taken into police custody over alleged racist remarks. The island is also betting on food sovereignty to bring down the cost of living, a persistent concern for households. Meanwhile, six corruption investigations are underway, including one involving the gendarmerie. Together the stories point to tensions over prices, justice and public institutions on the French Caribbean island.
- 4German Cell-Based Milk Startup Senara Expands to Netherlands▼German Cell-Based Milk Startup Senara Expands to Netherlands with Govt Funding
German cell-based milk startup Senara is expanding operations to the Netherlands, with backing from government funding. The move marks a step for the young food-tech company as it scales its animal-free dairy production beyond Germany. Expansion with public support signals growing European institutional interest in precision fermentation and alternative dairy technologies.
- 5Private equity moves into mom-and-pop restaurants▼“It is like the reverse of a Hallmark movie, where this evil, shapeless entity comes over and takes over your hometown restaurant.” Deep-pocketed private equity groups are investing in mom-and-pop food businesses, giving them a shot at big success. But man
Private equity firms are increasingly investing in small, family-owned food businesses, offering them capital and a shot at nationwide success. Critics compare the trend to a dark Hallmark movie, warning that big-money investors could strip beloved hometown eateries of the character that made them local institutions.
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is marking International Law Day 2026, with the European External Action Service among those noting the observance. The day highlights the role of international law in governing areas such as food security, fisheries and natural resources. Details of specific events or themes for the 2026 edition have not yet been widely reported.
- 7Nutrition Policy Institute to Assess Ultraprocessed Foods in California Schools▼Nutrition Policy Institute to evaluate ultraprocessed foods of concern in California schools
The Nutrition Policy Institute, part of the University of California's Agriculture and Natural Resources division, is launching an evaluation of ultraprocessed foods of concern served in California schools. The work aims to identify which products raise health issues for students and could inform future school food standards, amid growing national scrutiny of ultraprocessed foods in children's diets.
- 8Nine of ten papers questioning ultraprocessed food labels had industry ties▼9/10 research papers disputing ultraprocessed food definition have industry ties
A new investigation by The Examination found that nine out of ten research papers challenging the NOVA definition of ultraprocessed foods had financial or institutional links to the food industry. The findings raise concerns that industry funding is shaping the scientific debate over whether processed foods genuinely harm health, a debate with implications for upcoming dietary guidelines and regulation worldwide.
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Around one million chicks have been slaughtered as authorities respond to a new outbreak of bird flu, according to a report from The Food Institute. The mass culling is a standard containment measure to stop the virus from spreading through poultry flocks. The report did not specify the location of the outbreak or the strain involved, and further details have not yet been released.
- 10Conde Nast Traveller unveils 2026 ranking of India's best restaurants●Conde Nast Traveller releases its definitive 2026 ranking of India's 100 best restaurants - a list that spans regional c
Conde Nast Traveller has released its 2026 list of India's 100 best restaurants, covering regional cuisines across the country. The ranking ranges from Mumbai's fine dining establishments to coastal seafood institutions in Kerala, positioning itself as a definitive guide for diners and travellers exploring India's food scene.
- 11World Bank forecasts 23% commodity price rise in 2026▼World Bank sees commodity prices up 23% in 2026 due to Middle East war, other shocks
The World Bank projects commodity prices will rise 23% in 2026, citing the Middle East war and other supply shocks, according to Reuters. The forecast signals renewed pressure on energy, food and raw material costs worldwide, with knock-on risks for inflation, import bills and growth prospects, particularly in developing economies that depend heavily on commodity markets.
- 12Thai doctor finds Listeria in all tested Bangkok enoki mushrooms●If you eat hotpot, mala or shabu: a Thai doctor says all five enoki mushroom samples he had tested from four Bangkok ven
A Thai doctor reports that all five enoki mushroom samples he tested from four Bangkok vendors carried Listeria, the bacterium that can cause serious food poisoning, raising concerns for hotpot, mala and shabu diners. He notes five samples cannot show how widespread the problem is, but Thailand's National Food Institute issued a similar warning about enoki mushrooms in 2024. Food safety advocates are urging vendors and regulators to respond.
- 13NPI to present at 35th annual CACFP Conference in Coronado▼NPI to present at the thirty-fifth annual CACFP Conference Oct. 27 in Coronado, CA
The Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) will present at the thirty-fifth annual Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Conference on October 27 in Coronado, California. The announcement comes from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, which houses the institute. The conference brings together food program administrators and nutrition professionals to discuss child and adult care nutrition policy and practice.
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University College London warns that the health consequences of climate change are escalating faster than efforts to address them. The finding highlights a widening gap between growing threats such as heat, disease and food insecurity and the pace of global mitigation and adaptation policies, prompting calls for stronger action to protect public health.
- 15Over 250 US Hospitals Pledge to Cut Ultra-Processed Foods▼More than 250 U.S. hospitals pledge to cut ultra-processed foods and improve patient meals
More than 250 hospitals across the United States have committed to removing ultra-processed foods from their facilities and serving patients healthier, freshly prepared meals. The pledge, reported by Medical Daily, represents a shift in institutional food policy at healthcare providers, treating nutrition as part of medical care. Commenters are weighing in on whether hospital food standards could change more widely across the healthcare sector.
- 16Over 250 US Hospitals Commit to Healthier Hospital Food▼Secretary Kennedy Secures Commitments from More Than 250 Hospitals to Make Hospital Food Healthier
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has secured commitments from more than 250 hospitals across the United States to make the food they serve patients and staff healthier. The pledge is part of the administration's broader push to improve nutrition in American institutions and reduce diet-related chronic disease.
- 17Corewell joins RFK initiative to make hospital food healthier▼Corewell joins RFK’s effort to make hospital food healthier
Corewell Health has joined an effort led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to improve the nutritional quality of food served in hospitals. The initiative aims to replace processed meals with healthier options for patients and staff. The story was reported by the Southgate News Herald.
- 18Whitetail Institute Launches New Obsession Block▼Whitetail Institute Introduces the New Obsession Block
Whitetail Institute has introduced a new product called the Obsession Block, a mineral or attractant block aimed at deer hunters and land managers. The company is known for wildlife nutrition products that support herd health and hunting food plots. Details on the block's formulation and availability remain limited so far, with coverage so far confined to outdoor industry news outlets.
- 19Retail Groups Welcome Court Ruling Striking Down Debit Fee Cap▼FMI, Merchants Welcome Court Ruling Striking Down Debit Swipe Fee Cap
A court has struck down the cap on debit card swipe fees, and the Food Marketing Institute along with merchant groups have welcomed the decision. The ruling removes a regulatory limit on the fees retailers pay banks when customers pay by debit card, a long-running point of contention between merchants and card issuers over the cost of accepting electronic payments.
- 20RFK Jr. Claims 250 Hospitals Signed His Food Pledge▼RFK Jr. Says 250 Hospitals Have Signed His Food Pledge. Will It Change What’s on the Tray?
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says 250 hospitals have signed on to his food pledge, an initiative aimed at improving the quality of food served to patients. The claim has drawn attention to whether hospital meal programs will actually change, with observers questioning how the pledge will be enforced and what commitments it requires from participating institutions.
- 21
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is drawing attention to the ocean's sunlit surface zone, often called the great layer of life, where most marine life is concentrated and where photosynthesis drives the ocean food web. Interest centres on how this thin layer sustains fisheries and absorbs carbon, and why it is vulnerable to warming and acidification.
- 22Food Is Medicine, but What Counts as Healthy Remains Debated▼We Agree Food Is Medicine—We Still Can’t Agree What’s Healthy
The Milken Institute highlights a paradox in nutrition policy: there is broad consensus that food functions as medicine and should play a larger role in healthcare, yet experts still cannot agree on what actually qualifies as healthy. The piece points to ongoing disputes over dietary guidance, labeling standards, and which foods deserve endorsement, even as food-based interventions gain ground in medicine.
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Bank of America Institute is examining whether cost-of-living adjustments are providing genuine relief to older consumers facing elevated prices. The analysis weighs COLA increases against seniors' actual spending patterns, asking whether benefit bumps have restored purchasing power or merely kept pace with inflation-driven costs for essentials like food, housing and healthcare.
- 24Compostable Seed Pod Startup Wins $500,000 NSF Grant▼Compostable Seed Pod Startup Wins $500,000 NSF Grant to Scale Automated Indoor Farming
A startup making compostable seed pods has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the US National Science Foundation to expand its automated indoor farming technology. The funding will help the company scale production of its biodegradable pods, which are designed to simplify and reduce waste in controlled-environment agriculture as interest in sustainable food growing continues to rise.
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Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute is showcasing robotics designed for poultry farming, putting automated systems inside the chicken coop. The work points to growing use of robots in agriculture, where they can monitor flocks, handle routine tasks and ease labor shortages on farms.
- 26Health Minister Urges Full Buy-In for School Nutrition Policy●Administrators Must Ensure Total Buy-In for National School Nutrition Policy – Health Minister
Jamaica's Health Minister has called on school administrators to ensure total buy-in for the National School Nutrition Policy, stressing that its success depends on full commitment from those running schools. The policy aims to improve the food and drinks served to students and promote healthier eating habits in educational institutions.
- 27Hamas calls on Arab League to act as Gaza starvation worsens▼Hamas urges Arab League action as Gaza faces renewed starvation, condemns deadly university strikes
Hamas has called on the Arab League to take concrete action as Gaza faces renewed starvation, and condemned strikes that killed people at a university in the territory. The movement is pressing Arab governments to move beyond statements and deliver food and aid, accusing Israel of deepening the humanitarian crisis while attacks continue to hit civilian institutions.
- 28WK Kellogg Co Marks a Century of Nutrition Innovation▼Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future: WK Kellogg Co Celebrates More Than a Century of Nutrition Innovation During American Archives Month
WK Kellogg Co is highlighting more than a hundred years of nutrition innovation as part of American Archives Month, under the theme 'Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future'. The company is showcasing its historical records and legacy in food and nutrition, tying its archival heritage to its current work and future direction in the cereal and food industry.
- 29Asia Biologicals Foundation launched to promote regenerative agriculture●Asia Biologicals Foundation unveiled to unite science and industry for healthier soils and regenerative agriculture
The Asia Biologicals Foundation has been launched with backing from the International Rice Research Institute, aiming to bring together scientists and industry to improve soil health and advance regenerative agriculture across Asia. The new body is expected to coordinate research, partnerships and practical solutions for farmers, with healthier soils positioned as central to sustainable food production in the region.
- 30
The Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research has published a piece framing food as an act of resistance, exploring how growing, cooking and sharing food can challenge dominant political and economic systems. The essay situates food sovereignty within broader struggles for social justice, adding to ongoing debates about who controls what communities eat and how food can become a tool of political expression.