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Experts share key advice to prevent holiday foodborne illnesses

2026 has been an unusually severe and active year for food safety issues, particularly when measured by outbreak case counts and recall volume by weight.

12 Nov 2026

The Mediterranean diet has a modern problem, and it isn't just about food

A narrative review published in Applied Sciences examined how urbanisation, time constraints, food costs, and changing lifestyles have contributed to declining adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Drawing on 116 references, the authors identified workplace and school interventions, nutrition education, physical activity, and Mediterranean-inspired convenience foods as potential strategies for adapting this dietary pattern to modern life.

5 Nov 2026

A simple salt swap could prevent nearly 3 million deaths a year, researchers estimate

A global modelling study covering 193 countries and territories estimated that replacing regular salt with a potassium-enriched substitute containing 25% potassium chloride could prevent 2.96 million deaths, 10.17 million new cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease cases, and 69.43 million disability-adjusted life years annually. Although the researchers projected an increased risk of hyperkalemia-related deaths among people with impaired kidney function, the estimated cardiovascular benefits substantially outweighed these potential harms.

5 Nov 2026

Ancient insect-eating traditions offer lessons for modern sustainable diets

New research from Durham University highlights how insects have been part of human diets for thousands of years despite seeming unusual to many people.

30 Oct 2026

Discarded fruit and vegetable parts offer overlooked fiber benefits

Most of us routinely discard the peels, skins, stalks, and seeds of fruits and vegetables at mealtime. But new research from King's College London suggests these scraps could be a valuable – and overlooked – source of dietary fiber, offering potential benefits for both public health and the environment.

29 Oct 2026

Can broccoli sprouts help with insulin resistance? New review offers clues

A review published in the British Journal of Nutrition examines how carotenoids and bioactive compounds in Brassicaceae microgreens may influence obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes through metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Small human trials involving broccoli sprouts have reported improvements in selected metabolic markers, but larger, longer-term studies are needed to establish their clinical benefits.

29 Oct 2026

Children's brain reward responses may explain ultra-processed food-related weight gain

Children who eat more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) show stronger responses in the brain's reward network when viewing images of appetizing foods-and these brain responses are linked to increases in body fat one year later.

23 Oct 2026

Are shared fryers really off-limits for people with celiac disease?

A study finds most French fries and tortilla chips from shared fryers contain low gluten levels, suggesting revised dietary advice for celiac disease is needed.

22 Oct 2026

A 20-year study of 90,000 adults suggests the type of fish you eat matters

A Japanese study following 90,944 adults for an average of 20.8 years found that associations between seafood consumption and mortality varied by fish type and sex. Moderate seafood consumption was linked to lower overall mortality among women, while higher intake of omega-3-rich fish in women and unsalted seafood in men was associated with lower cerebrovascular disease mortality.

20 Oct 2026

Parents know fruit and vegetables are healthy, but many underestimate how much children need

A qualitative study involving 15 Swedish parents found that although most recognized the health benefits of fruit and vegetables, many underestimated recommended daily intake and considered serving vegetables at dinner sufficient. Researchers identified four overlapping parental roles influencing children's eating habits and suggested that clearer guidance on quantities, serving frequency, and practical feeding approaches could help families improve consumption.

15 Oct 2026

Home delivery boosts fresh produce prescription redemption among older adults

People who eat fresh food are healthier than those who don't. That simple fact is the basis of food prescription programs that make fruits, vegetables and other foods free for people who are food insecure.

15 Oct 2026

Nutritionally similar meals might not affect your body the same way

Ultra-processed foods trigger distinct metabolic and brain responses, influencing insulin release and nutrient processing despite similar nutritional content.

8 Oct 2026

Blue light treatment kills food poisoning bacteria on raw chicken

A low-power blue light could be the key to significantly reducing food poisoning caused by raw chicken in the UK, scientists at the University of Reading have found.

6 Oct 2026

Shoppers valued healthier, greener foods, but still chose meat

In a discrete choice experiment involving 272 Dutch adults, researchers examined how people valued meat, meat replacers, and legumes across pasta and traditional potatoes-meat-vegetables meals. Health and sustainability labels ranked highly, but participants still tended to favor meat when measured product attributes were held constant, with only modest differences across meal settings.

28 Sep 2026

Banning ultra-processed foods brings major hurdles for public schools

Starting in July 2029, public schools are required to start phasing out ultra-processed foods under a new California law that prohibits schools from serving foods high in sugar, fat, salt and certain artificial food additives.

28 Sep 2026

Common chemical exposures in pregnancy may be linked to early attention and memory

Researchers examined whether prenatal exposure to aromatic amines and cotinine was associated with attention, processing speed, and memory in 250 infants assessed at 7.5 months. The study found mixed patterns across cognitive measures, with several estimates suggesting poorer attention or memory but carrying substantial statistical uncertainty.

23 Sep 2026

Older adults with higher polyphenol intake were less likely to have mild cognitive impairment

In a cross-sectional study of 92 older Italian memory-clinic patients, higher habitual intake of total dietary (poly)phenols and several specific subclasses was associated with a lower likelihood of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Total (poly)phenol intake was not associated with cognitive test performance or circulating inflammatory biomarkers, and the authors cautioned that the small observational study cannot establish causality.

20 Sep 2026

Campus dining halls fail to provide appealing protein choices for college students

A new University of Maine study has identified what researchers describe as a campus protein challenge. Although students generally consumed adequate amounts of protein, many reported that campus dining halls failed to provide protein choices they considered flavorful, appealing or prepared in ways they viewed as healthful.

16 Sep 2026

Visual impairment may limit kitchen independence despite skills

A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), published by Elsevier, examined culinary skills and related barriers among adults with visual impairment.

26 Aug 2026

What happens to your diet when you get better at cooking?

Cooking-skills interventions were associated with healthier dietary behaviors in healthy adults, including greater fruit and vegetable intake, improved diet quality, and greater cooking confidence. However, the certainty of evidence was low to very low, and too little evidence was available to determine whether cooking skills affect nutritional status.

20 Aug 2026