PODCAST: Ep. 38 - Infant Formula Recalls, MAHA, and Reformulation: Food Ingredients in Spotlight

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

In this episode of Agri-food for Thought, host Simon Duke welcomes Expana Editorial team member Fei Thompson to discuss the dynamic and challenging landscape of the food additives sector in early 2026.

They begin with the global infant formula recalls triggered by cereulide toxin found in arachidonic acid (ARA) oil supplied to major manufacturers like Nestlé, Danone, and Lactalis. The contamination highlights vulnerabilities in global ingredient supply chains

Top 10 Headlines on Expana in 2025—and What Could Shape the Next Year in Food and Ag

2025 was a big year for news in the food and agriculture industry. Headlines ranging from livestock diseases and sweeping policy changes to rising geopolitical tensions, shifting tariffs, weather events, and evolving consumer trends influenced commercial strategies, supply chains, and global market dynamics... 

FDA Broadens Approval for Hydrogen Peroxide in Food Processing

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized an amendment to its food additive regulations to permit hydrogen peroxide for broader food-processing uses, responding to a petition from Cargill Inc.

Effective September 3, 2025, the rule allows hydrogen peroxide as an antimicrobial, oxidizing and reducing agent, and bleaching agent while removing sulfur dioxide from the regulation.

The agency also updated the official quality standard by incorporating the Food Chemicals Codex 14th edition monograph for hydrogen peroxide. The action acknowledges prior GRAS determinations for specific uses but expands

BayWa Confirms Most Severe Crisis in Company’s History   

BayWa has confirmed that the 2024 financial year was marked by the most severe crisis in the company’s history. 

“In the summer of 2024, BayWa AG found itself in a debt and liquidity crisis that threatened its very existence, whereupon comprehensive reorganization measures were initiated and a reorganization opinion on the future viability and continued existence of the BayWa Group was commissioned,” the company said in its annual report. 

As part of its ongoing restructuring strategy, BayWa has sold a 47.53% stake in...

Sugar On the Chopping Block for SNAP Program Following MAHA Commission

On May 22, US President Donald Trump spoke alongside Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and others during a MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] Commission Event. 

“We’re on track to sign multiples of SNAP waivers to get junk food and sugary drinks out of our food stamp system,” said the USDA’s Rollins. Rollins signed the first waivers to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) in Nebraska, Indiana, and Iowa, she said during her speech...

Shengnong Development to Acquire Full Ownership of Poultry Firm Sun Valley Food 

Shengnong Development, a Chinese poultry producer, has announced plans to acquire an additional 54% equity stake in Anhui Sun Valley Food Technology (Group) Co., Ltd. for CNY 1.1 billion (approximately USD 149.9 million). 

Following the completion of the transaction, Shengnong Development will hold 100% ownership of Sun Valley. 

Sun Valley and its three subsidiaries, Sun Valley Food (Anhui) Co., Ltd., Sun Valley Food (Chuzhou) Co., Ltd.,and Sun Valley Food (Mingguang) Co., Ltd., operate a fully integrated poultry supply chain.