Hitting the headlines…

Food & Drink stories in the news …

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received four complaints about online food advertising. Three involved paid online advertisements for identifiable ‘less healthy’ products, including influencer and targeted business-to-business campaigns. The ASA upheld all three, confirming that digital marketing arrangements cannot be used to circumvent restrictions on such advertising. It also upheld a separate complaint concerning unauthorised health and disease-prevention claims by Whitworths.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board has agreed to develop proposals under its Future of Food Regulation programme to reform the food safety system. Plans include strengthening local authority food teams and enforcement powers; improving food business registration; introducing national scrutiny of the largest food businesses; making better use of supply-chain data and intelligence; and requiring food hygiene ratings to be displayed online across the UK and at shops and restaurants in England. The national approach would initially focus on major retailers in England, while local authorities would remain responsible for most local food businesses. The FSA will develop the proposals with local authorities, businesses and other partners, submit detailed plans to its Board in March 2027 and consult publicly later that year.

The FSA has updated its National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) guidance with the NFCU’s priorities for 2026–27. Its intelligence-led Control Strategy sets priorities through to March 2027, including the adulteration and substitution of lamb, beef, poultry and dairy products; the diversion of waste, including animal by-product handling, in red meat, poultry, dairy and feed supply chains; and supply chains posing a high authenticity risk to the UK.

The Food & Drink Federation (FDF) has reported that the UK’s food and drink trade deficit has reached £21.1 billion, the largest since 2000. Export volumes fell by 11.7% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, while imports rose to near-record levels. The FDF cites continuing Brexit-related trade friction, tariff pressures and regulatory complexity as key factors.

Government has confirmed changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. From 2028, the sugar threshold will be lowered and sugary milk-based and milk-alternative drinks will become subject to the levy. Manufacturers need to assess reformulation strategies.