Hitting the headlines…

Food & Drink stories in the news …

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched new online guidance to help people buy and use food supplements safely. Whether it’s vitamin D tablets, protein powders or herbal remedies, millions of people across the UK regularly take food supplements. The FSA’s new web page offers straightforward advice to help consumers make informed choices and avoid potential risks.

The ban on adverts on television and online for unhealthy food came into force on 5 January as part of a drive to tackle childhood obesity. The UK-wide ban stops food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar being advertised on TV before 21:00 and at any time online. It applies to products considered to be the biggest drivers of childhood obesity, including soft drinks, chocolates and sweets, pizzas and ice creams.

Industry groups have warned that recently announced UK immigration reforms will intensify labour shortages across hospitality and foodservice. UK Hospitality reported that changes would “further shrink” the available talent pool and worsen existing staffing pressures across the food sector.

New research reported in late January suggests that modest sodium reductions in bread, takeaway items, and packaged foods could prevent thousands of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths across the UK and France. The study reinforced long‑standing pressure on UK manufacturers to reformulate core staples. You can read the full report here.

The FSA’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) has urged vigilance against food fraud. Following an investigation by the NFCU, a man was sentenced to two and half years in prison after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods. The case was linked to wider distribution fraud of over half a million pounds worth of poultry. The NFCU compiled evidence after it was alerted to a series of offences in which fraudsters impersonated legitimate food businesses in the UK to secure deliveries of food from overseas suppliers and one UK-based supplier. This involved cloned details from McDonald’s franchises in order to steal cargo – in this case, chicken and turkey.

The Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA) warns of a survival crisis in 2026 for British beer as brewery closures average three per week across UK. According to new figures released by the SIBA UK Brewery Tracker, brewery closure rates increased dramatically during 2025 compared to previous years, with a 37% spike compared to the previous year.