Food Matters Live Podcast

Can the right nutrients in early life protect your brain decades later? Are we missing critical brain-boosting compounds in our daily diets? In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Rotterdam, neuroscience experts reveal the nutrient gaps undermining cognitive health across every life stage - and the innovative ingredients that could fill them.  We discover that 9...

How does a trending flavour make it from social media hype to supermarket shelves? And why do some innovations succeed while others end up gathering dust in warehouses? In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our Dublin event, industry leaders from Tesco, Green King, Yo! Sushi, and Danone reveal how they navigate the innovation process.  We discover why Tesco segments million...

Dairy products may be perceived as 'much-loved by uninspiring' in some quarters, but there's plenty of work being done to change the category's image. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our Dublin event, we discover how it's being transformed through the prism seven consumer lifestyle pathways. We learn about communal dining trends driving butter and cheese boards across...

The next wave of protein innovation is here - and it looks nothing like the plant-based burgers that dominated the last five years.  In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our Ascot event in 2025, we explore two radically different approaches to meat alternatives. Mycelium fermentation that grows centimetre-length muscle-like fibres, requiring just four ingredients, and extr...

What does the future hold for flavour innovation in the food sector? In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Dublin, five culinary innovators reveal which flavour trends are defining the 2020s - and which unexpected ingredients will reshape menus by 2030. The panel dissects everything from "borderless cuisine", to the relentless march of hot honey across every ca...

Can you reformulate a product to reduce sodium by 25% without losing the rich savoury profile consumers expect? And even if you can, will shoppers actually buy it?  The UK's high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) regulations have sparked the biggest wave of reformulation the food industry has seen in decades - but success requires far more than technical prowess.  In this episode of the Food Matters Live...

What happens when 12% of US adults start using weight loss medication that suppresses their appetite? We're finding out in real time - and the food industry is working to respond.  In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Dublin in November 2025, we look at how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are already leading to retailers and manufacturers all over the worl...

As the gut microbiome emerges as a "forgotten organ" implicated in everything from cardiovascular disease to Parkinson's, the biotics landscape is exploding beyond probiotics.  In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Rotterdam in September 2025, a panel of experts take a deep dive into the world of pre, pro and postbiotics. They reveal how plant-based meat fibres...

Is AI going to revolutionise food and beverage innovation, or are we being sold a lot of hype?  While 85% of digital transformation efforts fail, companies like Coca-Cola and Carlsberg are already using AI for everything from trend-spotting to flavour prediction.  In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Dublin in November 2025, Antonio Weiss, author of "AI Demyst...

Is personalised nutrition about hitting the perfect bullseye with algorithmic precision, or is it actually more like a game of beach ball - bouncing insights back and forth between company and consumer? Despite two decades of DNA analysis, continuous glucose monitors, and proprietary algorithms, most personalised nutrition advice still boils down to "eat salmon, broccoli, and brown rice" - recomme...

What happens when precision fermentation, ultra-processed food backlash, GLP-1 drugs, and supply chain volatility collide?  The food industry faces unprecedented challenges - and opportunities - as multiple disruptive forces converge simultaneously.  In this panel discussion recorded at the Food Matters Live in Ascot in October 2025, industry leaders from across the value chain reveal how they're...

What if the key to healthy ageing isn't just about living longer, but maintaining metabolic wellness, bone strength, and cellular youth throughout our lifespan?  As obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to rise globally, the need for evidence-based nutritional interventions has never been more critical.  In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Rotterdam in Septemb...

Can we really convert industrial CO2 emissions into complete nutrition without using any fertile land?  As deforestation claims a forest area the size of 18 football fields every minute to meet food and feed demands, the search for genuinely sustainable protein sources has never been more urgent.  In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Rotterdam in September 202...

How can food manufacturers simultaneously make products healthier, more affordable, more sustainable, and maintain great taste - all whilst the regulatory landscape is shifting? The food industry has a rich history of adaptation, navigating everything from global crises, evolving regulatory landscapes, and consumer preferences. And it looks like that adaptability trait is going to need to continue...

Is gut health still a top priority for consumers? We know that awareness continues to rise, but there's evidence that fewer people are actually taking action when it comes to their diets. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Manchester in May 2025, we explore how the gut health conversation needs to evolve beyond traditional disease management messaging. We he...

How do health and nutrition brands cut through the noise when social media influencers can spark viral trends overnight with questionable claims? From apple cider vinegar "miracle cures" to dangerous weight-loss promises, the supplement and nutrition industry faces constant battles against misinformation. That misinformation can undermine consumer trust and safety. In this episode of the Food Matt...

Why has the ultra-processed food (UPF) debate reached fever pitch, yet seems stuck in an endless loop of confusion?  Despite evolving beyond its initial black-and-white framing, the conversation continues to generate more heat than light. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Manchester in May 2025, our expert panel cuts through the misinformation to explore wh...

Whether it is health, sustainability, cost, or even the changes brought about by the big increase in GLP-1 treatments, the way we eat is evolving. Consumer behaviours are shifting, and what motivates people in their food choices is encouraging food manufacturers to think about their approach to nutrition.  In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, made in partnership with BENEO and KREGLIN...

Food manufacturers are confronting a significant challenge that has the potential to transform the entire sector. The catalyst is GLP-1 medications, better known as weight-loss drugs. The surge in popularity of these treatments is forcing food companies to wrestle with entirely new consumer expectations. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, made in partnership with IFF , we ask: how d...

How can plant-based oils help solve some of the food industry's biggest challenges? From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to cutting costs, while maintaining great taste, plant-based oils are emerging as a powerful solution for manufacturers facing mounting pressure to deliver sustainable, affordable, and delicious products. But with concerns around deforestation and responsible sourcing, how do...

Since Brexit, food manufacturers face an unprecedented challenge: navigating two completely different regulatory systems that are rapidly diverging from each other. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded live at our event in Manchester in May 2025, Camden BRI's Regulatory Affairs Manager, Sharon Morey, reveals why trying to predict what regulatory changes are on the horizon has...

What are the real barriers preventing fibre from achieving meaningful integration into our daily diets? Only 10% of the UK population meets daily fibre requirements, yet innovation continues to accelerate in this space. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded live at our event in Manchester in May 2025, our expert panel explores why fibre could finally be having its moment. From...

Why has gut health become a mainstream conversation, and what are the real barriers to bringing innovative gut health products to market? Research into gut health has exploded over the past 10-15 years, with consumers increasingly seeking functional foods that deliver benefits beyond basic nutrition. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded live at our event in Manchester in May...

Sugar reduction is reshaping how food manufacturers approach product development, but how do you go about balancing health with taste preferences? With health consciousness rising and regulatory pressure mounting, the industry faces unprecedented challenges. The demand is clear, with over a third of European consumers actively buying more reduced or no added sugar products. In this episode of the...

What are the real barriers preventing sustainable proteins from achieving mass market penetration?  Innovation continues to accelerate in this space, but there are still challenges around mainstream consumer acceptance. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded live at our event in Manchester in May 2025, our expert panel explores the complex landscape of sustainable protein adopt...