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How GLP-1 weight loss drugs are shaping the future of European food demand

Economists at ING have released a new report on the expected impact appetite-suppressing weight loss medications will have on European food demand. The insights reveal how much GLP-1 drugs will influence and reshape the industry in the years to come. GLP-1 drugs are widely discussed as potentially transformative for food consumption, but their near-term impact in 2026 is minimal, says ING. Even though users typically reduce calorie intake by 15–20%, low adoption rates (nearly 2% of European adults and 12% of Americans) mean total food demand is only reduced by about 0.25%, which the bank suggests isn’t yet a major concern for F&B companies.
woman checking food label in supermarket
Salt reduction reimagined: Crafting balanced, flavorful solutions for health-conscious consumers
The food industry is witnessing a significant shift in how salt reduction is approached. What once focused solely on lowering sodium content is now evolving into a broader and more sophisticated strategy centered around flavor optimization. With increasing pressure from health organizations, governments, and consumers, manufacturers are striving to create reduced-sodium products that don’t sacrifice taste, texture, or overall quality. This reformulation challenge has led to the development of innovative ingredients and technologies, particularly in fermentation and flavor enhancement, which allow for the creation of more balanced and complex flavor profiles.
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Fonterra on why New Zealand’s grass-fed dairy standard is key to building consumer trust
The dairy industry is witnessing a rising demand for milk and dairy products from cows primarily fed on grass rather than grain-heavy diets, as consumer interest in transparency, regenerative agriculture, and minimally processed F&B grows. Amid heightened scrutiny around “grass-fed” claims, New Zealand uses a national standard to provide a clearer benchmark in a category consumers associate with health benefits, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.
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wheyco™ W80 I LAF: Unlock the Power of Lactose Free Whey Protein Concentrate
Lactose intolerance affects consumers worldwide, driving demand for high-quality, lactose-free protein solutions. wheyco™ W80 I LAF delivers a premium lactose-free WPC80 with excellent solubility, clean taste, and reliable performance. It enables manufacturers to create high-protein, easily digestible products, and offers versatile functionality for a wide range of applications.This Technical Paper is brought to you by DMK.
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Operating Through Uncertainty: Building Scalable Advantage in the Age of Ultra-Processed Foods
In this session, Innova Market Insights will share exclusive insights into consumer behavior, perceptions, and preferences around UPFs, as well as market insights and innovation opportunities within processed foods.      Frame & Flight will explore how leading manufacturers are responding by modernizing how product data flows across formulation, specifications, labeling, and compliance. Using connected digital workflows, teams can evaluate reformulation scenarios earlier, manage supplier change with confidence, and stay launch-ready — even as definitions, guidance, and expectations continue to evolve.      The result: less rework, faster decisions, and the ability to turn regulatory and nutritional uncertainty into a competitive advantage.    
IFE Manufacturing2026 Atura Proteins video thumbnail: Trade show booth with ATURA branding, attendees networking around a display counter, and inset portrait of a man wearing an ATURA shirt
IFE Manufacturing 2026 live: Atura unlocks high-protein products with chickpea, fava bean, and red lentil flours

Paul Donegan, commercial development and marketing manager, explains how Atura’s chickpea flour, fava bean flour, and red lentil flour ingredients help food manufacturers create clean label, high-protein products. He also addresses the challenges food manufacturers face when incorporating plant proteins and how Atura provides tailored solutions, playing a key role in developing popular new products in the growing plant-origin food sector.

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Unilever and McCormick strike deal to form US$20B global food powerhouse
Unilever headquarters.
Unilever and McCormick have agreed to combine Unilever’s global Foods business with McCormick, creating a significantly larger, flavor‑focused global food company with around US$20 billion in annual revenue and a portfolio spanning herbs, spices, seasonings, sauces, and condiments. The deal brings together leading brands, such as Knorr, Hellmann’s, French’s, Cholula, and Frank’s. The British multinational is set to reinvent itself as a pure-play home and personal care business following the divestment, focused on higher‑growth, higher‑margin categories like beauty, well-being, and home care. For US-based McCormick, the deal represents an aggressive move to expand its footprint beyond spices into a broader set of food categories and accelerate global growth.
March in review: Global fertilizer crisis, Unilever food division sale, Danone...
Food Ingredients First March Review.
In March 2026, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid US-Israel strikes on Iran evolved into a prolonged supply chain crisis. Fertilizer flows are under threat, driving knock-on effects for food ingredients, while Iran’s plans for a permanent transit control system could further increase global input costs. Unilever received a takeover approach from McCormick for its food division. Pernod Ricard revealed discussions to merge with Brown-Forman in a potential deal that would create a global spirits leader.
Chickpeas take center stage in Banza’s high-protein pasta innovation
pasta in bowl
US-based Banza has unveiled a semolina wheat protein pasta containing chickpea, as F&B innovators rethink staples to meet consumer demands for high-protein foods. The launch marks the company’s first expansion beyond gluten-free products and advances its better-for-you offerings, while retaining the taste and texture of traditional pasta.
IFE Manufacturing 2026 live: Functional drinks, GLP-1 and protein-forward...
trade show floor
IFE Manufacturing 2026 is underway in London, UK (Mar 30–Apr 1), showcasing product innovations in functional beverages, healthier snacks, premium indulgence, and global flavors. The three-day event aims to offer a clear view of the F&B industry’s current direction as companies respond to consumer demand for clean label, reduced sugar, and convenient formats.
EU Breakfast Directive: Cargill’s reformulation strategy for jam manufacturers...
Chef making jam from real fruit.
The revised EU Breakfast Directive is entering its final implementation phase, with full enforcement set for June 2026. What may appear to be a routine update to rules on honey, fruit juice, and jams is, in reality, a significant shift toward greater transparency, stricter product definitions, and enhanced consumer protection.
March in review: Gut microbiome advances, weight loss innovations & Expo West...
March in Review Nutrition Insight

Nutrition Insight

March saw developments in AI-driven microbiome testing, postbiotic developments, and nutraceutical solutions for GLP-1 nutrient gaps. Meanwhile, industry challenges in supply chain disruptions, growing labeling scrutiny, and a demand for transparency accelerated innovations in nutrient-dense formulations, from supplements to functional foods and ready meals. In our March review, Nutrition Insight dives into some of the month’s biggest stories, including our live coverage at the Natural Products Expo West 2026 trade show and how nutrition and supplements can solve nutritional gaps linked to GLP-1 use and rapid weight loss. 
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Shipping.
Regulatory News
Tehran’s “toll booth” in Hormuz cuts Western buyers out of...
The Strait of Hormuz crisis has entered a new phase. Four weeks after Iran effectively closed the waterway to commercial shipping, the disruption is no longer a temporary blockade — Tehran is threatening to build a permanent transit fee and vetting system that could reshape how fertilizer reaches global markets, with significant implications for food ingredient input costs. Fertilizer prices have already moved sharply. The benchmark urea contract price for May 2026 has surged 68% since the conflict began, closing at US$681 per metric ton on March 19, according to the National Corn Growers Association’s market analysis. Fitch Ratings has raised its 2026 ammonia and urea price forecasts by approximately 25%, signaling that markets expect the disruption to persist well beyond the current planting season. 
Lab research.
Tech & Innovation
AI-powered ingredient discovery gains ground as Ingredion...
Ingredion and AI-enabled protein discovery company Shiru have announced a global R&D collaboration aimed at accelerating the discovery and commercialization of novel functional proteins for food, beverage, supplements, and specialized nutrition. The partnership pairs Shiru’s Flourish platform — which maps more than 77 million natural protein sequences — with Ingredion’s formulation expertise, regulatory know-how, and customer network spanning 120 countries.  
Huel Iced Coffee in supermarket.
Business News
Danone’s €1B Huel acquisition: What does it signal for...
Danone’s move to acquire vegan British meal replacement brand Huel in a €1 billion (US$1.2 billion) deal signals that the French F&B multinational is cementing its place in the protein movement and betting on “complete nutrition” going mainstream. Food Ingredients First explores why Huel is an attractive prospect for Danone, and how the acquisition of an omnichannel business with a strong direct-to-consumer foundation, an expanding international footprint, and a fast scaling retail business, reinforces its mission to develop health-focused, everyday nutrition.

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Salt Reduction Strategies: Meeting consumer demand for healthier indulgenceApr2026

According to Innova Market Insights, global consumers increasingly view reduced-salt claims as a vital element in making indulgent foods healthier and supporting healthy aging. This consumer shift is ...

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Product innovation

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Pioneering protein innovation: Emerging trends and global launches Apr 2026

According to Innova Market Insights, 57% of consumers globally are actively seeking to increase their protein intake. In recent years, F&B product launches featuring protein ingredients has risen steadily. A variety of protein types are gaining traction, including milk protein crisp, yeast protein, cranberry protein, soy protein crisp, and tofu protein.

Trend analysis

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Healthy beverage trends: A growing market for functional drinksApr 2026

Innova Market Insights has identified “Beverages with Purpose” as one of the top F&B trends for 2026. Consumers worldwide are increasingly prioritizing health-conscious beverages, driven by growing industry support and innovation. This shift is accelerating the demand for functional drinks, with protein and biotic benefits leading the charge as key trends in healthy beverage development.

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IFE Manufacturing2026 Atura Proteins video thumbnail: Trade show booth with ATURA branding, attendees networking around a display counter, and inset portrait of a man wearing an ATURA shirt
Video04:36
IFE Manufacturing 2026 live: Atura unlocks high-protein products with chickpea, fava bean, and red lentil flours

Paul Donegan, commercial development and marketing manager, explains how Atura’s chickpea flour, fava bean flour, and red lentil flour ingredients help food manufacturers create clean label, high-protein products. He also addresses the challenges food manufacturers face when incorporating plant...

Philip Durham, Atlante, UK Expansion, Private Label, IFE Manufacturing 2026, AMBO, Mister Potato, Food Industry, Retail Strategy, Brand Partnerships, Italy Harvest 2025, Year Of Abundance, FMCG, Busin
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IFE Manufacturing 2026 live: Atlante’s private label evolution and UK expansion strategy
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IFE Manufacturing 2026 live: Lallemand Bio-Ingredients on savory innovation, clean label & flavor enhancement
Stefanie Engel,Döhler
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IFE Manufacturing 2026 live: Döhler highlights key trends shaping F&B innovation
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