Industry Watch
Your Place at the Table:
How community dining is creating a positive impact on people and the planet
10th March 2025
A rapid literature review conducted by the British Nutrition Foundation and a survey carried out among FoodCycle’s volunteers and guests has suggested that community dining offers a reliable, stable, dignified and inclusive service.
The review also found that community dining assists with both financial and physical food access, helping guests to meet their dietary requirements and allowing communities to have a role in their health and wellbeing.
The Heat is On: Why Bananas May Become a Rare and Expensive Treat
10th March 2025
A study has warned that the growth of bananas for exportation may no longer be economically feasible in many parts of the Caribbean and Latin America by 2080. Climate change is resulting in increasing temperatures, which is making these areas less suitable for the growth of bananas.
The study also identifies socioeconomic barriers to adapting to climate change, including labour shortages and a lack of access to infrastructure. The relocation of banana farms to cooler areas is not an easy solution as the majority of banana farms are located near ports and populated areas.
Dessert stomach emerges in the brain
25th February 2025
Researchers investigated the reaction of mice to sugar in order to find out the reason for the "dessert stomach". The researchers found that mice that were satiated still consumed desserts. It was found that POMC neurons were responsible for this after investigating the mice brains.
The researchers also examined brain scans on human volunteers who were given a sugar solution through a tube. The researchers found that the same area of the brain responded to the sugar in humans.
How will weight loss drugs impact
foodservice?
25th February 2025
The impact of weight loss drugs on foodservice and hospitality businesses has posed major questions. The commercial impact of weight loss drugs on the UK foodservice industry has been minimal at present. “...GLP-1 drugs are...tightly regulated and only accessible to a select group of adults who meet specific criteria and are referred by an NHS specialist,” states Trish Caddy, associate director of foodservice at Mintel.
More widespread use of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs could have an effect on the types of food people want to consume outside of the home, and not just the quantity. Trish Caddy has suggested that weight loss drug users driven by health goals could create increased demand for more healthy dining options.
