The Americas
FDA stalls food safety warnings after mass staff layoffs
More than a dozen food safety warning letters flagging serious risks like botulism contamination and misleading supplement claims have not been published by the FDA due to staffing cuts, NBC News has reported. The delays follow mass layoffs of federal health workers in April under the Trump administration, including those responsible for reviewing and redacting letters before public release. These letters are vital enforcement tools, often making headlines and alerting retailers and consumers to health hazards. Although some staff have been rehired, the backlog is ongoing. Experts have warned that the lapse could leave the public unaware of food safety threats that would typically trigger action.
Burger King sued over ‘exaggerated’ Whopper ads
Burger King is facing a federal class-action lawsuit in the US over claims that its Whopper and other menu items appear significantly larger in ads than in real life. A judge in Miami ruled the case can proceed, noting that “some” consumers may have been misled by images showing overflowing fillings and exaggerated meat portions. Burger King admitted its food is styled for marketing but argued that customers expect ads to be idealized. The judge disagreed, saying the depictions go “beyond puffery.” McDonald’s and Wendy’s faced similar lawsuits in 2023, though Burger King’s claims are reportedly more extreme.
Asia Pacific
Yunnan emerges as China’s key food trade hub with Asean
As China looks to diversify food sources, Yunnan province is stepping up as a strategic agricultural bridge with Southeast Asia. In Q1 2025, its agri-imports from Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) rose 26.5% to ¥3.22bn (US$446m). Long involved in regional farming initiatives, Yunnan now anchors new cold-chain routes and logistics infrastructure, including a massive fruit trading and processing hub in Kunming set to open in 2026. A new freight corridor linking Kunming with Vientiane and Phnom Penh is also expected to slash delivery times, boosting fresh food imports. Yunnan also ranks first amongst China’s provinces in exports of flowers, coffee, and tobacco.
Foodpanda exits Thai market after years of losses
Foodpanda will shut down operations in Thailand on May 23, marking the latest strategic retreat by parent company Delivery Hero. Despite 13 years in the market, the platform never turned a profit, posting an accumulated net loss of 13.8bn baht between 2014 and 2023. The decision follows similar exits from other countries as Delivery Hero refocuses on higher-return markets. Foodpanda held just under 15% of Thailand’s food delivery market in 2024, trailing far behind Line Man Wongnai (44%) and Grab (39.4%).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Could lab-grown bacon fuel future space missions?
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute have developed a pig fat cell line with potential to revolutionize cultivated meat – on Earth and in orbit. Dubbed FaTTy, the cells grow indefinitely and produce high-quality fat, a key to flavor and realism in lab-grown meat. Crucially, they require no genetic modification, ticking regulatory boxes in places like the EU and New Zealand. The team sees applications for feeding astronauts, in line with growing interest in sustainable protein production in space. Similar space food research is underway at Imperial College, NASA and Aleph Farms, which grew beef cells aboard the ISS.
DoorDash acquires SevenRooms in £900m push beyond delivery
Hot on the heels of its £2.9bn Deliveroo buyout, DoorDash has snapped up restaurant CRM and booking platform SevenRooms for £900m ($1.2bn). The move aims to expand DoorDash’s capabilities beyond food delivery by helping restaurants grow both onsite and off-premise sales, improve guest relationships and boost profitability. SevenRooms, known for its operator-first tools and integrated marketing and CRM solutions, will retain its partner-friendly ecosystem while gaining global scale through DoorDash. The acquisition, expected to close in H2 2025, reflects DoorDash’s bid to become a full-service commerce platform for restaurants in an increasingly omnichannel dining world.
Elly Earls
