BBQ Food Safety: How to Enjoy Grilled Foods While Reducing the Risk of Harmful Toxicants Nothing says summer like the aroma of food sizzling over an open flame. Backyard barbecues bring family and friends together to enjoy burgers, steaks, chicken, seafood, and grilled vegetables. While grilling is one of the world's favorite cooking methods, food safety experts remind consumers that how food is
Summer Grilling 2026: Why Barbecue Flavors Are Taking Over Everything From Sauces to Instant Noodles Every summer, grilling season inspires a fresh wave of food innovation. But in 2026, the trend has expanded well beyond burgers, hot dogs and barbecue sauce. Food manufacturers are bringing smoky, sweet, spicy and regional barbecue flavors into products that traditionally have little connection to backyard cookouts, creating new opportunities
North American Food & Flavor Industry Business Intelligence Report Coverage Period: June 7–27, 2026 Jelly Belly Repositions Its Brand for a New Generation (Published June 12, 2026) Jelly Belly announced a strategic brand repositioning designed to expand its appeal beyond its traditional consumer base while preserving the premium flavor reputation that has distinguished the company for decades. Following its acquisition by Ferrara, the confectionery
Oceania Food & Flavor Regulatory News Roundup: Major policy, food safety, novel food, and compliance developments shaping the industry (7–26 June 2026). 25 June 2026 — Australia/New Zealand — Cell-cultured duck biomass consultation FSANZ opened public comment on Application A1341, which seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to permit cell-cultured duck biomass from Pekin duck embryonic stem cells. The proposed use is not a generic commodity approval;
Savory Flavor in Kimchi Trends: Why “Umami” Is Suddenly Surging in Search Search interest for the keyword "savory flavor in kimchi" has spiked over the past day, largely driven by a clue in the June 29, 2026 New York Times Mini Crossword, which asked, "Savory flavor, as in kimchi and soy sauce." The five-letter answer is umami,
Functional Beverages Are Reshaping the Coffee Industry as Consumers Prioritize Health and Wellness The line between coffee, nutrition and wellness is becoming increasingly blurred. What was once a simple morning caffeine ritual is evolving into a broader health-focused experience, with protein coffees, adaptogenic drinks, CBD-infused beverages and other functional products gaining traction across cafés, grocery stores and convenience retailers. Industry analysts
Coca-Cola and Noodles & Company Introduce Fanta Vanilla Cherry Spritz: A Strategic Look at Flavor Pairing in Foodservice Fanta Vanilla Cherry Spritz Highlights the Growing Role of Menu-Specific Beverage Development The foodservice industry continues to move beyond simply offering beverages alongside meals. Increasingly, restaurant-exclusive drinks are being formulated as intentional flavor companions that enhance the overall eating experience. Coca-Cola's new Fanta Vanilla Cherry
European Food & Flavour Regulatory Intelligence Report Key Legal and Regulatory Developments (7–26 June 2026) 1. Date: 9 June 2026 Country: European Union EU authorises inulin-propionate ester as a novel food The European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1219 authorising inulin-propionate ester as a novel food in the EU. The ingredient may be used in cereal bars and fruit smoothies for the
Acetals in Flavor Chemistry: What Every Flavorist Needs to Know 1. General Substituent Group: Structure, Functionality, Reactivity & Stability Structure An acetal is built around a single carbon bonded to two ether-type oxygens (–OR groups), one hydrogen, and one R group inherited from the parent carbonyl: OR' | R — C — H | OR' Acetals form when an aldehyde reacts
Asia Food & Flavor Regulatory Intelligence Report: Key Legal and Regulatory Developments (June 7–26, 2026) 1) June 8, 2026 — China Draft amendments to food additives and food flavors standards China notified draft amendments to national food safety standards for food additives and food flavors. For flavor houses, ingredient suppliers, and finished-food exporters, this is directly material because China operates a positive-list system: permitted
South America Regulatory Intelligence Report: Key Food & Flavor Industry Developments (June 7–26, 2026) 1) Argentina — MERCOSUR plastic and cellulosic food-contact rules incorporated into CAA Released: June 8, 2026. Argentina published Joint Resolution 6/2026, incorporating MERCOSUR food-contact rules into the Argentine Food Code. It adds general provisions for plastic packaging/equipment in contact with food, updates the positive list for polymers/
Food & Flavor Manufacturing Regulatory Intelligence North America | June 18–26, 2026 June 24 — FDA phthalates in food-contact materials FDA updated its phthalates page and extended comments to July 26, 2026 on grouping DEHP, DCHP, DIOP, and DINP for future cumulative risk assessment. This affects packaging, PVC/vinyl tubing, gaskets, adhesives, lubricants, sealants, conveyor belts, and other food-contact systems used
The Cheesecake Factory's New Flavor: Brownie Crunch Choc-a-Lot Cheesecake Sparks Online Buzz Search interest for "Cheesecake Factory new flavor" has surged after The Cheesecake Factory unveiled its newest limited-time dessert ahead of National Cheesecake Day. The restaurant chain is continuing its annual tradition of launching a brand-new cheesecake flavor, and this year's release is designed for
The Complete Flavorist's Guide to Commercial Distillates: Production, Physical Properties, Sensory Evaluation, Solubility, Applications, Dosage, Labeling, and Regulatory Compliance Below is a practical flavorist training guide to commercial “distillates”. It covers the commercial families flavorists actually encounter, how to use them, and what to check before formula release. 1. What “distillate” means in flavor work A distillate is a volatile flavor fraction obtained by vaporizing aroma compounds from a
M&M's to Temporarily Drop Blue and Brown Candies as Mars Switches to Natural Food Colors June 24, 2026 M&M's Temporarily Retires Blue and Brown: Inside the 85-Year-Old Icon's "MAHA Makeover" For nearly nine decades, the simple pleasure of biting into an M&M's has been intertwined with its rainbow of vibrant colors.
Resins, Resinoids & Balsams in Flavor Work: What the Society of Flavor Chemists Expects Every Flavorist to Know Below is a flavorist training guide for commercially available resins, resinoids, and balsams used in flavors. It is not a substitute for supplier documentation, FEMA/IOFI status, or local regulatory review. Resins, Resinoids & Balsams in Flavor Work 1. Core definitions Resin: natural exudate, usually semi-solid to solid, rich
Members only Oleoresins: What Every Certified Flavorist Should Know Oleoresins are a type of flavoring substance that the Society of Flavor Chemists expects certified flavorists to be able to explain in terms of their physical form, method of production, organoleptic characteristics, and solubility. 1. What oleoresins are Oleoresins are concentrated extracts of spices, herbs, or botanicals containing both volatile
Members only Kraft Dinner Enters the Instant Noodle Market with New KD Ramen Collection Kraft Dinner Expands Beyond Mac and Cheese with Cheesy Ramen Innovation June 22, 2026 - Kraft Dinner (KD), one of Canada's most recognizable comfort food brands, is broadening its product lineup with the introduction of KD Ramen, a new range of instant noodles that combines the brand's
Essential Oils: What Flavorists Need to Know 1. What essential oils are Essential oils are volatile, hydrophobic aromatic fractions from botanicals. In U.S. flavor labeling, “natural flavor” includes essential oils, oleoresins, essences, extractives, distillates, and certain reaction/enzymatic products whose significant function is flavoring, not nutrition. (Legal Information Institute) Physical form: usually clear to amber mobile
Members only A Flavorist’s Guide to pH and Volatility: Understanding, Predicting, and Controlling Aroma Release Table of Contents 1. Fundamental Principle: The Golden Rule of Volatility 2. The Chemistry of pH-Sensitive Compounds 3. The Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation for Flavorists 4. The Mathematics of Sensitivity: The "Danger Zone" 5. Practical Compound Families and Their pH Behavior 6. Real-World Reformulation: A Step-by-
Concretes: What the Society of Flavor Chemists Wants Flavorists to Know Presented below is a flavorist training guide for commercial “concretes” and concrete-like solvent extracts. 1. What “concrete” means A concrete is a concentrated natural aromatic extract made by solvent extraction of plant material, usually fresh flowers or other aromatic botanicals. It contains volatile aroma compounds plus nonvolatile waxes, pigments,
Enzymolysis in Flavor Chemistry: What the Society of Flavor Chemists Wants You to Know 1. What enzymolysis means Enzymolysis is the cleavage of chemical bonds by enzymes, usually with water as the reacting molecule. In flavor systems, enzymolysis matters because it can either: Create desirable flavor notes by releasing aroma compounds or precursors, or cause flavor aging and shelf-life loss by degrading key
Recrystallization in Flavor Systems: Training Material for Flavorist Trainees 1. Introduction: What is Recrystallization? Recrystallization is the process by which a substance that was previously dissolved, melted, or present in an amorphous (non-crystalline) state forms crystals again. In flavor products, recrystallization most commonly involves: * Sugars * Polyols (sugar alcohols) * Organic acids * Salts * Encapsulating materials * Occasionally flavor ingredients themselves Although
Members only Adsorption and Absorption of Flavor Compounds by Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Fats - A Flavorist Training Guide Adsorption and absorption of flavor compounds are critical factors that determine flavor intensity, release, stability, and perception in food systems. Adsorption refers to flavor molecules attaching to the surface of food components, while absorption involves their penetration into the interior of a material. In practice, both processes often occur simultaneously.
Beef Tallow Makes a Mainstream Comeback as Major Food Companies Embrace the 'MAHA' Fat June 22, 2026 - Once a staple in grandmother's kitchen, beef tallow is experiencing a remarkable renaissance. This rendered animal fat, pushed aside for decades by vegetable oils, is sizzling its way back into the spotlight. Fueled by new federal dietary guidelines that champion its use and a growing