Food/Flavor News Released Today March 12, 2026
Here is a detailed roundup of news from March 12, 2026, covering product innovation, market trends, regulatory actions, and business developments relevant to food and flavor professionals, categorized by region.
π News in Asia
Chinese Official Calls for Tastier Health Foods; Industry Exec Responds
Amidst China's dietary shift toward "eating well and nutritiously," a significant policy discussion has emerged. Responding to a recent call by Minister of Agriculture Han Jun for a dietary structure with "less oil, more beans, and more dairy," Zhang Xuewu, an NPC deputy and chairman of Yanjin Shop Food Co., Ltd., emphasized a critical point for flavor professionals: "We shouldn't expect consumers to compromise on taste for health." He urged the industry to use technology to make healthy food tastier and more convenient, specifically calling for the deep processing of soybeans and the "snackification" of dairy products. This includes innovations like transforming soy into "protein snacks" and moving dairy consumption from "drinking milk" to "eating dairy" through products like cheese crisps and yogurt bites .
FAO Reports First Rise in Global Food Prices in Five Months
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations released its latest report today, revealing that the international food price index reversed a five-month declining trend in February 2026, posting a slight month-on-month increase. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 125.3 points in February, up 0.9% from January. Key drivers included rising prices for wheat, various vegetable oils, and some meats, which offset declines in cheese and sugar prices. For flavor and food professionals, this signals potential shifts in raw material costs, with vegetable oil prices reaching their highest level since June 2022 and sheep meat prices climbing to historic highs .
South Korea Launches 'Ttunteun Food Store' Initiative for Healthier Convenience Shopping
South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) launched a pilot project called "Ttunteun Food Store" (which translates to "wholesome" or "robust"). The first store was officially opened in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on March 12. The initiative aims to create a healthier shopping environment, particularly for children, by reorganizing convenience store layouts. Participating stores will display items by health-focused categories, such as high-protein, low-sugar, and low-sodium foods, using special green "Ttunteun Food" shelf cards to make them easily identifiable. The MFDS plans to expand the project from the current 121 pilot stores to over 300 locations by the end of the year .
πΊπΈ News in America
Kerry Unveils Strategies for Functional Flavors at Expo West 2026
At the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California, Kerry showcased its latest insights for bridging the gap between functional nutrition and consumer appeal. Shannon Coco, the company's senior director of new sales development, presented the new Kerry Taste Charts for 2026. This "Taste Chart Companion" tool combines flavor trend data with consumer research to guide innovation in categories featuring protein, fiber, collagen, and adaptogens. Kerry also highlighted KerryNow, its digital platform designed to help manufacturers accelerate prototyping and new product development for functional foods .
Mega Sardines Declares "The Year of the Sardine" at Expo West
Mega Sardines, alongside the Medical Wellness Association, continued the global tour celebrating 2026 as "The Year of the Sardine" at the 45th annual Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim. Michelle Chan, CEO of Mega Prime Foods, announced the initiative, which has generated over 1 billion media impressions globally. The company is planning to launch a special 12-can "Sardine 4-day Reset" pack at attractive pricing to help consumers adopt sardines into their diet and improve metabolic measures. This pack will be available across most of the United States and globally in selected markets .
Food & Beverage Industry Shows Modest Growth with $1 Billion Smithfield Project
According to the February 2026 capital project spending report from Industrial SalesLeads Inc. , released today, the North American food and beverage industry is demonstrating steady growth. The research identified 50 new planned industrial projects for the month, a slight uptick from January. Key highlights include 36 new processing facilities and 22 renovation or equipment upgrade projects. The largest planned investment is a $1 billion processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, by Smithfield Foods, Inc. , which is currently seeking approval. Other significant projects include a $165 million expansion of a dairy processing facility in Logan, Utah, and a $105 million new construction project for a food processing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas .
Schreiber Foods Invests $133 Million in Pennsylvania Dairy Expansion
Schreiber Foods, a major player in the dairy industry, announced a significant expansion of its facilities in Pennsylvania with a $133 million investment. This expansion is expected to increase milk demand and create additional jobs in the region, benefiting dairy farmers in Pennsylvania and strengthening the dairy supply chain to meet rising consumer demand for dairy products .
πͺπΊ News in Europe
Synergy Flavors Expands Dairy Portfolio with New Authentic Dairy Flavors
Synergy Flavors, part of Carbery Group and a leading supplier of flavors, announced the launch of authentic dairy flavors, designed to deliver rich, true-to-dairy taste with improved formulation efficiency, cleaner labels, and measurable cost-in-use benefits. The new technology leverages Synergy's decades of dairy expertise, proprietary mouthfeel technologies, and deep understanding of customer formulation needs across savory applications. The flavors are available in multiple formats, including powders, spray-dry formats, emulsions, and pastes, and are designed for stability in challenging processing conditions such as retort, high heat, and acidified systems. Early customer applications like buttermilk ranch, indulgent dips and sauces, and cheesy seasonings have demonstrated significant benefits, such as up to 37% reduction in dairy commodity usage .
π¬π News in Africa
Ghana FDA Launches Probe into Plastic Use in Fried Plantain Chips
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana has initiated a sweeping nationwide investigation following disturbing allegations that some street food vendors are melting polyethylene plastic into hot oil while frying plantain chips. The practice is allegedly used to make the chips crispier and extend their shelf life. The FDA has deployed inspectors to collect samples for laboratory testing, warning that this constitutes "direct chemical contamination." Experts warn that heating Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) can release hazardous additives like phthalates and plasticizers, which are linked to hormonal disruption and other serious health issues. Offenders will face prosecution under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) .
Nigeria's Food Import Bill Surges to N7.65 Trillion
Nigeria spent a whopping N7.65 trillion on the importation of food and beverage products in 2025, according to the latest Foreign Trade Statistics report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) . The data suggest that a significant portion of Nigeria's food imports is used as raw materials for domestic food manufacturing, highlighting the extent to which the country's food processing sector depends on imported inputs. Processed food and beverage imports represented the biggest share, reaching N4.17 trillion, with N2.60 trillion utilized mainly for industrial purposes such as food processing and manufacturing. Agriculture experts attribute the rising import dependence to several structural challenges including soaring production costs, insecurity in farming communities, and heavy post-harvest losses . d
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