Food

It's ironic that even though many people are starving, a great deal of food gets discarded because it spoils before it can be eaten. A new natural-source packaging material could help, by making foods last longer – plus it's biodegradable.

Making inroads in the world of lab-grown meats is Israeli startup Future Meats, which has just received the largest investment ever seen in the cultured meat industry and is rapidly reducing the production costs of its cultured chicken.

A new study has found a key fatty acid found in palm oil can promote cancer metastasis in mice. The research, which does not claim dietary palm oil has cancer-causing properties in humans, could lead to new therapies that block cancer spread in the future.

Thanks to a pilot project by Heinz and a team of researchers led by Andrew Palmer at the Florida Institute of Technology, when astronauts set up outposts on Mars they may be able to make their own ketchup using locally grown tomatoes.

Flippy the burger-flipping robot has received an upgrade as Miso Robotics rolls out its Flippy 2 model. Using feedback from a White Castle pilot program, the new cybernetic chef boasts twice the capabilities and can operate a fry station on its own.

A first-of-its-kind study has measured levels of plasticizer chemicals in a number of fast food products. The findings reveal high concentrations of a number of potentially harmful chemicals, such as phthalates, in almost all samples studied.

Researchers are calling for urgent action limiting the use of chemicals called phthalates in the production of plastics. A new study estimates up to 100,000 premature deaths in the United States every year could be attributed to phthalate exposure.

Following recent recommendations by an expert panel, the European Union has formally banned food coloring E171 from all foods, beginning in 2022. Also known as titanium dioxide, the chemical is commonly used as a white colorant in processed foods.

Artificial sweeteners are widely promoted as zero-calorie alternatives to sugar, ideal for those trying to lose weight. But a new study is indicating artificial sweeteners may increase appetite and food cravings, particularly in females and the obese.

We've seen how lab-grown meats could help address the massive environmental costs associated with livestock production, and we're now seeing some interesting possibilities emerge around one of the world's most popular drinks – coffee.

The freezers found homes and restaurants play an invaluable role in preserving foods until they're ready to be eaten, but an alternative technology promises to not only use far less energy, but improve food quality at the same time.

Can the make-up of your gut microbiome affect the success of a weight loss intervention? A unique new study is indicating this is certainly possible, identifying several mechanisms by which gut bacteria can either help or hinder weight loss.