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Hello to everyone who produces, supplies, sells, or simply loves great food and beverages! You're with Fresh Insider Agency, and we're back with another roundup of the week's most interesting developments.
This week, we're looking at disruptions to food supply chains, unusual new products, artificial intelligence, major business deals, and technologies shaping the industry's future. And we've saved a special story for the end — one that reminds us that sometimes the most important thing isn't producing more food, but making sure the food we've already produced doesn't go to waste.
Let's get started!
Italy's Pasta Industry Faces a Supply Crisis
We begin with an unexpected food supply crisis in Italy. Truck drivers protesting high fuel prices disrupted the delivery of raw materials and food products across southern regions of the country.
Pasta producer Rummo was forced to suspend production due to ingredient shortages. La Molisana also reported reduced output, while disruptions affected mozzarella producers and fresh produce suppliers.
By October 22, the protests had begun to ease following government measures. But the situation exposed just how vulnerable food supply chains can be: even a fully operational factory may be forced to shut down when essential ingredients simply cannot reach its production lines. [1]
The World of Food: Red Kiwifruit and Egg Protein Without Chickens
Now, let's move from troubling headlines to innovations that might surprise even seasoned food industry professionals.
Red kiwifruit after fifteen years of research. Zespri has introduced its distinctive Zespri Red variety to the European market, featuring vibrant red flesh at its centre and a sweet flavour with berry-like notes. Belgium became the first European country to welcome the new fruit, which is grown in Italy. The launch follows more than fifteen years of conventional breeding, without genetic modification. Production volumes remain limited, meaning consumers have only a short seasonal window to discover this unusual kiwifruit. It's a fascinating reminder of just how much work can go into developing a single new fruit variety. [2]
Egg white protein without chickens? US-based The EVERY Company has secured a new US patent expanding protection for the use of precision-fermented protein in finished food products. The technology makes it possible to produce ovalbumin using microorganisms, without relying on chicken eggs. One particularly promising application is baking, where egg white protein contributes not only nutritional value but also essential structural properties. According to the company, the new patent is the sixty-fifth granted patent in its international portfolio. [3]
On the Technology Front: AI in Orchards and Starch-Based Packaging
While some companies are developing entirely new products, others are transforming the way food is grown and packaged.
Artificial intelligence moves into fruit production. International fruit group Citri&Co has announced a partnership with technology company ORTH. Following a pilot project in Peru that the partners describe as successful, the group plans to introduce the AI platform across its agricultural operations. The system combines field data, historical growing-season records, and agronomic information to support better production decisions. The scale is impressive: Citri&Co works with more than 33,000 hectares of agricultural land and supplies over one million tonnes of fruit annually to more than seventy countries. [4]
Paper packaging gets a protective coating made from starch. UPM, Ingredion, and Paramelt are developing paper-based packaging with plant-derived barrier coatings. The aim is to improve grease resistance and heat-sealability while maintaining recyclability. The prototype structure has already completed an initial recyclability assessment at Western Michigan University. Further testing is still needed before large-scale commercial adoption, but the technology looks promising for manufacturers of ready meals, baked goods, and snacks. [5]
A Question Worth Asking: Is That Really Lemon Juice in the Bottle?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published the findings of an investigation into the authenticity of lemon juice.
Researchers analysed 195 product samples collected between 2022 and 2025. Seven imported samples were found to have composition-related violations. The testing focused on identifying possible dilution with water, added sweeteners, foreign acids, and other ingredients inconsistent with lemon juice standards.
Shipments associated with the identified violations were refused entry into the United States.
The findings do not indicate widespread lemon juice adulteration, but they highlight why verifying the authenticity of even familiar ingredients remains an important challenge for the food industry. [6]
Big Business: A $3.4 Billion Deal Could Reshape the Packaging Market
Now to a development that could change the competitive landscape among international packaging suppliers.
US-based Silgan Holdings, together with investment firm American Industrial Partners, has announced a planned $3.4 billion acquisition of Netherlands-based Trivium Packaging.
Trivium's operations are expected to be combined with Silgan's metal packaging businesses, creating an international company valued at approximately $7.3 billion and specialising in metal containers for food, beverages, and other products.
The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
For the food industry, this is a significant development: if completed, the deal will create an even larger packaging supplier with manufacturing operations across Europe and North America. [7]
International Trade: Europe Moves to Update Organic Food Rules
And here's another important development for producers and exporters.
The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on updated rules governing organic production, certification, and international trade.
Under the proposed changes, certain small retailers selling unpackaged organic products directly to consumers would see the exemption threshold for mandatory certification increase from €20,000 to €40,000 in average annual turnover over the previous five years.
The agreement also provides for extending recognition of organic production standards in eleven countries, including Canada and New Zealand, until 2036.
The legislation still requires formal approval, but the agreement represents an important step towards clearer and more predictable trading conditions for international suppliers. [8]
Good News: More Than 3.5 Million Meals Saved from Going to Waste
And we'd like to end this week's edition with a story from South Africa, where food that might otherwise have ended up in landfill found a much better purpose.
The charitable organisation The Star Foundation has published the results of its partnership with SA Harvest. Between May 2025 and April 2026, the partners helped provide more than 3.5 million meals — nearly 600,000 above their original target.
In total, 897 tonnes of food were rescued and distributed through 275 community organisations supporting families in need and people experiencing homelessness.
Behind these figures lies a simple but powerful idea: food that has already been produced should never go to waste while people still need it.
And sometimes, changing someone's life doesn't require producing anything new. It simply means making sure that what we already have doesn't go to waste. [9]
And that's a wrap on our second edition!
The food industry continues to surprise us: new technologies are opening up opportunities, international developments are reshaping markets, and simple acts of kindness are making the world a little better.
If you have an interesting news story, an unusual product, or an inspiring project, we'd love to hear from you! Send it to the Fresh Insider editorial team. We'll verify the information and will be delighted to share stories worth telling with our readers.
Stay on top of industry trends and grow your business with Fresh Insider Agency.
See you next week!
Sources
[1] Truck Drivers' Protests Disrupt Pasta Production in Italy. Reuters
[2] Zespri Red Kiwifruit Makes Its European Debut. RetailDetail
[3] The EVERY Company's New Patent. US Patent and Trademark Office
[4] Citri&Co and ORTH Announce AI Partnership. GlobeNewswire
[5] Starch-Based Barrier Coatings for Paper Packaging. UPM
[6] FDA Investigation into Lemon Juice Adulteration
[7] Silgan and Trivium's $3.4 Billion Acquisition Deal. Silgan Holdings
[8] Updated EU Rules for Organic Products. Council of the European Union
[9] More Than 3.5 Million Meals Rescued Through SA Harvest. The Star Foundation