Food trends

After the doom and gloom of the last few months, the deal recently signed by Ukraine and Russia is a beacon of hope for grain exports. The agreement, that allows the resumption of vital grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, is an important diplomatic breakthrough aimed at alleviating the global food crisis sparked by the war. As a matter of fact, so far Russia had blocked maritime access to those ports thus impeding the export of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain to the numerous countries that rely on it. Considering that in normal times Ukraine would export around…

Alternative proteins is a general name used to indicate all those ingredients, foods and beverages that contain proteins derived from non-animal sources. Considered crucial to nourish the world’s growing population while mitigating the effects of the climate crisis, alternative proteins also entail a range of processes that can replace animal protein production, including the three main ones: plant-based, fermentation-derived and cultivated food. If traditional fermentation processes have already been used to improve plant-based products (for example, to add taste and nutrition to plant-based steaks), foods produced with precision fermentation made their debut on the market last year: among them, ice…

Although the global ice cream industry suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic due to supply chain disruptions, sales now seem to be on the rise again. In Italy and in the rest of Europe, the supply chain already bounced back in 2021 with a 25% upturn; now recent figures report that the global market - valued at USD113.82 billion in 2021 - is projected to register a CAGR of 6.47% during the next five years (2022 - 2027). If the current scenario in EMEA shows a per capita consumption of around 4.6kg yearly, the increased demand for quality convenience food among…

Every year on 18th June, the world celebrates Sustainable Gastronomy Day. Observed for the first time in 2017, this celebration is led by the UN General Assembly, UNESCO and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The correct explanation of what sustainable gastronomy really is comes from FAO: “Gastronomy is sometimes called the art of food. It can also refer to a style of cooking from a particular region. In other words, gastronomy often refers to local food and cuisine. Sustainability is the idea that something (e.g. agriculture, fishing or even preparation of food) is done in a way that is…

Although the concept of functional foods originated in Japan back in the 1980s - when government agencies started approving foods with verified benefits, in an effort to improve the health of the general population – the topic is becoming more and more popular now that consumers all over the world are more conscious than ever about the food they purchase and eat. In a few words, functional foods are ingredients that offer health benefits which extend beyond their nutritional value: some are naturally healthier than others, some may contain supplements or other additional ingredients designed to improve health. The most…

For as much as it used to be a local delicacy, these days Buffalo mozzarella (PDO) - aka mozzarella di bufala DOP, in Italian - is one of the foods that people order automatically whenever they see it on a menu. Never mind if the restaurant is in Rome, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai or New York City. Creamy, flavorful and incredibly soft, it is the ultimate mouth-watering experience for dairy lovers all over the world. Mozzarella di Bufala DOP is a fresh cheese made with the milk of the domestic buffalo, typical of southern Italy. Buffalo’s milk is higher in calcium,…

Last month all the major newspapers reported the presentation of NutrInform Battery, the Italian proposal for the adoption of a common food labeling system at European level. Conceived and created by a working group made up of experts from four ministries (Health, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Economic Development), food scientists and representatives of the agricultural world and industry, the Nutrinform Battery aims at providing a fairer alternative to the Nutri-Score, the front-labelling system selected by the French government in March 2017. Following France - which selected Nutri-Score after a randomized control trial comparing four labels, conducted in real-world conditions -…

Stracciatella is becoming more and more popular everywhere as chefs all over the world, who appreciate its taste and versatility, are featuring it on their menus. Despite the confusion that may be generated by its name - which defines also an egg-enriched soup and a chocolate-flecked ice-cream - Stracciatella is the trendiest of all the Italian fresh cheeses: a luscious, creamy cow's milk cheese made of shreds of mozzarella (to shred is stracciare, in Italian) mixed with cream. Possibly the best by-product made with mozzarella leftovers, Stracciatella originated in Puglia at the beginning of the last century; just like Burrata,…

Following a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly back in 2013 and the International Year of Pulses organized by FAO in 2016, World Pulses Day has been celebrated every year on the 10th of February since 2019, when this day was chosen to raise public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses as part of a sustainable food production. Under the theme “Pulses to empower youth in achieving sustainable agrifood systems”, this year’s celebration focusses on the fundamental role of younger generations to bridge the gap between traditional farming techniques and new technologies, in order to promote…

Back in 2020, during the hardest months of the pandemic when stay-at-home orders were imposed almost everywhere in the world, restaurants had to stop their dine-in activities. Many businesses had no option but to close, many others showed resilience by deciding to reinvent themselves. In this perspective, the delivery service became a business opportunity to be rapidly implemented in order to stay afloat. Despite the concern showed at first by consumers - who were worried about the transmission of COVID-19 via food delivery - this choice proved to be successful. Although during the several lockdowns people tended to prepare and…

Last November and December the market registered yet another rise – the third in the past six months – in agricultural prices. It was a +5.1% month-on-month, stronger than October’s 2.5% increase which was largely due to higher prices for many commodities and especially, among the others for wheat and coffee, as ongoing weather concerns in major-producing areas ( such Brazil, Canada and Eastern Europe) continued to hinder the supply scenario amid rising demand. On a larger scale, last September the FAO Food Price Index reported a staggering +23.1% of global food prices compared with December 2020 (for 2021 as…

In Christmas gatherings all over the world many are the topics that get relatives and friends converse for long hours. The same happens here in Italy; yet, be it due to our natural inclination for passionate discussions or to the engrained love for good food that make us all expert in something culinary, chances are that the old dilemma between Panettone and Pandoro may well heat up the conversation at the end of a meal. The two most loved Christmas desserts have been fighting to win the hearts of the Italians since marketing and logistics made them available throughout the…