Foodservice industry news

Foodservice industry news. Stay up to date with the latest news articles, information and press releases. Footprint bring you the key news and information from the UK foodservice sector.

Unconvincing Villiers leaves more questions than answers

The appearance of DEFRA secretary of state Theresa Villiers at a recent conference for UK farmers didn’t provide the clarity or reassurance the food industry is seeking for life in a post-EU world, writes Nick Hughes. When she took to the stage at this month’s annual Oxford Farming Conference Theresa Villiers had the opportunity to…

“Crisis of confidence” in organic and vegan food claims

More than one in four consumers (27%) are “not confident at all” that foods labelled organic are grown or reared using organic methods. Meanwhile, just 19% are “very confident” that vegan products in supermarkets do not contain meat, with 60% “fairly confident” and 16% “not confident at all”. Lloyd’s Register said it found a “deep…

Ocean current collapse could hit UK crop production

Crop production in Britain will fall dramatically if climate change causes the collapse of a vital pattern of ocean currents, according to new research. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) brings heat from the tropics, making Britain warmer and wetter than it would otherwise be. University of Exeter scientists have found that, while warming Britain…

The dawn of a new decade is set to mark another step change in the importance food businesses place on operating responsibly. Here, three experts offer their take on the issues that will dominate the sustainability agenda in 2020. Looking back on 2019, what would you identify as the single issue that most dominated the…

The ban on plastic straws, originally set to come into force in April, is likely to be delayed, Footprint understands. The government set out its plan to ban the distribution and sale of plastic straws in October 2018, with an introduction date of October 2019. A consultation showed majority support for the ban to be brought in…

Vegan pizzas and burgers on the menu for 2020

Pizza Hut and KFC are among a number of high street food brands to launch new vegan products at the start of 2020. KFC has introduced its first permanent plant-based burger made with a bespoke Quorn fillet following a successful trial in London, Bristol and the Midlands last summer. Pizza Hut, meanwhile, has launched a…

Dimbleby: ‘UK standards must apply to imports’

A sustainable food system should not only consider the environmental impact of food produced in the UK but must also apply the same standards to food imports, according to Leon co-founder Henry Dimbleby. The Defra lead non-executive and architect of the forthcoming national food strategy told this week’s Oxford Farming Conference that maintaining a level…

Research suggests that expanding the scope of sugar taxes to include certain foods will have a big impact on obesity, writes David Burrows. Taxing sugary snacks such as biscuits, cakes and sweets might be more effective at reducing obesity levels than increasing the price of sugar-sweetened drinks, according to a study published in The BMJ.…

Microplastic pollution far worse than initial estimates

There could be a million times more microplastic pieces floating around the oceans than previously thought, according to new research published in the science journal Limnology and Oceanography Letters. The findings will raise further concerns about the impact of microplastic pollution not only on the environment but on human health. Microplastic pollution tends to be…

In our latest round-up of cheery news, Nick Hughes takes a look at several initiatives that are making an impact when it comes to reducing food waste. It’s Christmas time and for many of us that heralds the opportunity to (over)indulge in festive treats and tipples. But for those less fortunate, the high jinks of…