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OpinionUK food security: what will it take…?
With the UK producing less than half its food, national security and growth are at risk. It’s time for a bold, cross-government plan to rebuild a resilient, self-sufficient food system.
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OpinionThe Great SPS Reset – what it means for farmers, food businesses and consumers
The announcement that the UK and the EU are moving towards a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement represents, in Professor Chris Elliott’s opinion, one of the most significant developments in UK food policy since Brexit.
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OpinionTackling taste, cost and trust: insights from the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein 2026 Conference
A week on from the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein 2026 Conference in London, New Food Deputy Editor Ben Cornwell reflects on the ideas, debates and breakthroughs that defined the event and why the future of alternative proteins still hinges on three stubborn challenges: taste, cost and trust.
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OpinionThe US–Iran conflict: the latest stress test for UK food security
Professor Chris Elliott reflects on the impact of the evolving war in the middle east to UK food security, reaffirming his belief that urgent policy action is needed to prioritise the longevity of our food system.
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OpinionNet Zero and the hidden cost to food security
Reflecting on a recent industry report, Professor Chris Elliott finds clarity in the true measure of sustainability in our food system – and it’s not all about emissions.
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OpinionNorway commits to end male chick culling – focus now falls on the UK
With the words of the UK Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy still ringing in our ears, Jenny Canham reflects how the firm commitments of Norway provide impetus for real action in the UK.
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OpinionMycotoxins: the silent, escalating threat to global food security
Amid the countless prominent effects of climate change lies a growing problem that’s been sidelined and misunderstood for too long. Professor Chris Elliott reveals why we must collectively sharpen up our approach to tackling mycotoxins in our food.
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OpinionFrom South America to the Irish border: how the EU–Mercosur deal could reshape UK food risk
New trade deals bring new opportunities – for the scrupulous and the not-so scrupulous. Here Professor Chris Elliott highlights where vigilance will be needed to head off potential deceptions from opportunistic trade exploiters.
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OpinionNext-level combat: involving the police in the fight against organised food crime
Relegated to the margins of responsibility outside police control, illegal fishing has largely evaded impactful sanctions. Colleagues from the Norwegian food research institute Nofima report here on the impact that increased police cooperation can have on bringing perpetrators of organised crime to justice.
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OpinionFood fraud 2026 and beyond: new targets, tactics and risks
Drawing on his extensive insight and all the data he can lay his hands on, Professor Chris Elliott reveals the areas most at risk of exploitation in our food system, highlighting the questionable benevolence of AI as both friend and foe.
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OpinionNew powers and a new era: reshaping the fight against food crime
The NFCU has earned its stripes and is now equipped with much needed long-awaited powers to intercept food crime. Commenting on the Unit’s recent annual report, Professor Chris Elliott divulges the scope of its new capabilities – vital to help combat the pervasive murky threat of food fraud.
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OpinionWhy the FSA’s Partial Nitrite Review must be retracted
Professors Chris Elliott and Brian Green reveal how newly released Committee on Toxicity minutes expose fundamental flaws in the Food Standards Agency’s partial nitrites review. They set out why the review must be withdrawn and replaced with a comprehensive, scientifically robust assessment that reflects the full body of evidence.
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OpinionThe FSA’s stance on nitrites in processed meat – a pale imitation of evidence-based policy making
Professors Chris Elliot and Brian Green question the FSA’s motivation behind its recent pseudo review into the safety of nitrates and nitrites, noting its patchy research and apparent lack of vigour in protecting the UK public.