GNT Exberry Horizontal Web Banner January 2026
EU-Mercosur: What the world’s largest free trade zone means for F&B supply chains
EU-Mercosur: What the world’s largest free trade zone means for F&B supply chains
After a quarter-century of negotiations, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement has cleared its most significant hurdle — but the F&B industry remains deeply divided over what it means for European supply chains. EU member states have voted to approve the deal with the South American bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, creating what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen describes as “the largest free trade zone in the world” — a market of 700 million consumers representing approximately 20% of global GDP.
High protein, plant hybrids & gut health: Inside dairy’s innovation push
High protein, plant hybrids & gut health: Inside dairy’s innovation push
Dairy ingredient suppliers are deploying new technologies to meet converging consumer demands, from stabilization systems that alter the mouthfeel of high-protein formulations to postbiotics engineered to survive pasteurization. Hybrid dairy-plant products are gaining commercial traction, with blended formulations and pea protein-fortified yogurt concepts rapidly moving from R&D into market-ready applications.
How dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health turns farm-level decarbonization into business value
How dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health turns farm-level decarbonization into business value
dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health recently launched its Sustell Carbon Value Program, which enables companies to affordably decarbonize their value chains, meet sustainability targets, and comply with reporting requirements. The sustainability tool targets stakeholders who want to build strong and more efficient food systems while scaling their own carbon reductions.
Advance novel food innovation with trusted science
Advance novel food innovation with trusted science
Ensuring safety and regulatory compliance is critical for your novel food. This ebook provides comprehensive approaches to novel food human safety testing—covering toxicology, physical & analytical chemistry and innovative assessment methods. Learn about industry trends, real-world case studies and strategies to accelerate your product from concept to market.This technical paper is brought to you by Labcorp.
Fi Europe 2025: Beneo scales functional ingredients for weight and glucose management
Fi Europe 2025: Beneo scales functional ingredients for weight and glucose management

We caught up with Rudy Wouters, head of the Beneo Technology Center, and Karel Thurman, Beneo’s portfolio director, to discuss how the company is aligning ingredient innovation with evolving market demands for clean label, sugar reduction, and weight and glucose management. On the show floor, the company highlighted major investments in capacity expansion for fava bean ingredients, chicory fibers, and texturizing starches, alongside portfolio extensions, such as its more purified Orafti FOS (fructooligosaccharide) formats.

F&B ingredients industry 2025: Most read stories
F&B ingredients industry 2025: Most read stories
F&B ingredients trends centered on health, sustainability, and affordability. From plant-based advancements and gut health to the rising importance of protein and stress relief, industry leaders responded to shifting consumer needs. Key highlights included new developments in alternative proteins, gene-editing technologies, and supply chain regulations, with brands embracing transparency, flavor innovation, and functional ingredients for competitive advantage. We look back at the year’s top read stories.

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Nestlé infant formula scandal: CEO apology inadequate, says consumer watchdog
Nestlé infant formula scandal: CEO apology inadequate, says consumer watchdog
Consumer watchdog Foodwatch has criticized Nestlé’s public apology over its global infant formula recall, demanding the Swiss food giant disclose exactly when it knew about the contamination and why warnings to parents were delayed.

The rebuke comes as Brazilian health authorities confirmed the first reported illnesses linked to the recalled products. The Secretaria de Saúde do Distrito Federal announced on Tuesday that two infants around one year old experienced persistent vomiting and diarrhoea after consuming the affected formula. Both are recovering after their families stopped using the products, which were purchased before the recall was announced. 
Kerry uncovers what’s driving flavor choices in Asia, Middle East & Africa
Kerry uncovers what’s driving flavor choices in Asia, Middle East & Africa
“Swicy,” global‑local blends, and fruit‑forward refreshment — consumers in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa are seeking “contrast, comfort, and meaning” in their F&B flavor choices, according to Kerry’s 2026 Global Taste Charts. The findings, unveiled today, were built on research from more than 1,200 scientists, 100 flavorists, and extensive consumer studies across these regions. The charts provide manufacturers with a data‑driven roadmap for fast‑moving flavor trends.
Arla Foods powers European operations with 100% renewable electricity
Arla Foods powers European operations with 100% renewable electricity
Arla Foods, a farmer-owned dairy cooperative, has announced that its European sites have been powered exclusively by electricity from renewable sources since the end of last year. Approximately 93% of Arla Foods’ total electricity consumption is located within Europe, where the dairy company operates 46 sites across seven different countries. “This is a great achievement for our cooperative and the result of years of hard work and dedication by the teams involved,” says David Boulanger, executive vice president of supply chain at Arla Foods.
Time for tagatose? Researchers find biosynthetic route to low-calorie sugar
Time for tagatose? Researchers find biosynthetic route to low-calorie sugar
Researchers at Tufts University, US, have taken on the sugar substitute challenge, developing a way to biosynthetically produce the otherwise rare sugar called tagatose. They say their process could provide the sweetness and natural taste of table sugar without its potential harms — and provide some health benefits. The food industry continues to innovate in sweeteners that deliver the taste of sugar without its drawbacks, which include excess calories, tooth decay, and the heightened risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes.
Cocoa prices ease but alternatives and reformulation stay in focus
Cocoa prices ease but alternatives and reformulation stay in focus
Cocoa prices have nosedived in early 2026, signaling a shift in the global cocoa market that has been battered by high prices and supply chain volatility in recent years. The turnaround is driven by buoyed confidence in harvest prospects in West African cocoa-growing regions amid favorable weather forecasts. Meanwhile, exporters are reportedly locking in future prices for cocoa beans to minimize the risk from unexpected market volatility and ensure more stable costs and revenues.
Industry insights on reshaping nutrition for the GLP-1 consumer
Industry insights on reshaping nutrition for the GLP-1 consumer

Nutrition Insight

Amid growing access to GLP-1s, particularly in the US, the food and nutrition industries are exploring how to develop or adapt products tailored to the medication users. Nutrition Insight explores opportunities and challenges for innovations with Novonesis, WellVine, ofi, and Ingredion. Riccardo Locascio, head of Partnering in Advanced Proteins at Novonesis, highlights the three levels of food and nutrition innovations according to the Three Horizons Framework. “Today, we’re still in its infancy — Horizon 1 — using existing tools to reformulate.” 
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Food Ingredients News
Beverages with benefits: The functional drink innovations...
Functional beverage innovators are poised to push the boundaries further this year by developing drinks that transcend refreshment and hydration to target holistic health benefits, encompassing the body, mood, and mind — all in convenient formats. The beverages for wellness trend is predicted to accelerate in 2026, building on innovation and a wealth of NPD seen last year, as manufacturers and brands keep pace with consumer needs that have moved beyond basic hydration to include aspects like immunity boosts, energy support, digestive health, cognitive function, and mental well-being.
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Research & Development
Innova Market Insights reveals Top Global Flavor Trends 2026
Innova Market Insights has announced its Global Flavor Trends for 2026, with “Sensorial Explorations” taking first spot in a comprehensive analysis of the five consumer and market-driven flavor trends poised to reshape global food and beverage innovation in 2026 and beyond. The international market researcher will explore the trends in a webinar on January 29 (4 PM CEST / 9 AM CT), during which Lu Ann Williams, Innova’s global senior vice president for research, will introduce each trend and highlight standout launches across key F&B categories.
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Food Ingredients News
What happens when patients stop using GLP-1 medications for...
As GLP-1 use continues to proliferate in the treatment of obesity and as a weight management tool, new bodies of research reveal what happens when people stop using appetite suppressants like Ozempic and Mounjaro. While the studies focus on different aspects, one common outcome is weight gain after discontinuing GLP-1 injections. This, in turn, raises questions about whether following a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity is a better long-term approach to weight management.

Ingredient focus

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Confectionery market trends unwrappedJan2026

Global confectionery launches are on the rise as consumers increasingly opt for sweets, particularly chocolate, as a source of indulgence. Europe was the leading region for confectionery NPD, with var...

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Product innovation

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Colors drive F&B choices: From Instagram to health Jan 2026

F&B color choices can influence consumer purchasing decisions in various ways, from appearance and palatability to flavor perception and “Instagrammability.” In a digital world, where younger consumers regularly photograph their meals, visual impact and novelty have become increasingly important. At the same time, a sense of “naturalness” remains non-negotiable, with Innova Market Insights finding that 1 in 4 consumers rank it among the most important factors when it comes to healthy eating.

Trend analysis

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Dairy innovation & trends: Taste tops consumer prioritiesJan 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicate that consumers find taste to be very important when choosing dairy products, with more than half choosing this option. The Dairy category shows small growth globally, while Europe leads in new product launches. Most new product launches came in the Dairy-based Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt subcategory, while Processed Cheese showed the fastest growth.

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Fi Europe 2025: Beneo scales functional ingredients for weight and glucose management

We caught up with Rudy Wouters, head of the Beneo Technology Center, and Karel Thurman, Beneo’s portfolio director, to discuss how the company is aligning ingredient innovation with evolving market demands for clean label, sugar reduction, and weight and glucose management. On the show floor,...

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Fi Europe 2025: Prova chef merges pleasure with nutrition in gut health dessert concepts
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Fi Europe 2025: Austria Juice showcases flavor innovation for advanced beverage formulation
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Fi Europe 2025: Ingredia’s ProMilk Xpress protein accelerates cheese ripening by two weeks 
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