Welcome to the Culinary Tides’ monthly Culinary Compass, where we chart the course of the food industry’s latest trends, data, and developments. Each month, we’ll be sharing our top research picks, breaking news, and favorite industry insights, alongside all the latest from Culinary Tides, Inc.—including trend insight research, upcoming speaking events, and expert navigation advice. We are excited to bring you these curated highlights and exclusive content, designed to keep you ahead of the curve in our ever-evolving industry.
Let us help you jumpstart your strategy plan for 2026! Consider partnering with Culinary Tides, Inc. as your personal Think Tank, or for White space identification & navigation, Trend origin, longevity & trajectory reports, Concept development & refinement, or Ideation, Concept review & Strategy workshops.
Anchored Insight: Research
Innova: Young millennials and Gen Z are the primary drivers for dirty soda, with 60% of males and 40% of females engaging with dirty soda content online, boomers and Gen X (ages 45–54) show the lowest engagement
Tastewise: Social mentions of keto fell 18.5% year-on-year, restaurant menus featuring keto items declined 12.3%, and home cooking recipes tagged as keto also dropped in volume
Regulatory Ripples: Government Updates
USA: Wildtype and Upside Foods have filed a lawsuit against Texas over its two-year ban on lab-grown protein, arguing it unlawfully shields the state’s agriculture industry from competition
USA: S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently struck down President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on global exports, including wine and spirits, ruling that he overstepped his authority by imposing them under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)
The Best of Future Bites: Conference Insights
What were the most interesting and exciting trend topics from recent conferences? Take a quick educational break from your day and enjoy this 5-minute look at a trend that impacts the food industry.
Click on the Below to Watch ~ Winning Customers with Snack-Inspired Menus ~
Best of News Comments
Every weekday we post news items and cutting-edge research which impact the food and beverage industry. If you missed them, check out a few of our favorites from the past month:
1) Food Safety in Freefall: Why Dismantling Federal Oversight Puts Everyone at Risk
Trump and RFK Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” promise has become the opposite in practice. The 2026 FDA budget proposes shifting routine food safety inspections to states, while cutting 7.6% of Human Foods Program staff and 54% of Field Lab Operations.
The result? Foodborne outbreak tracing is collapsing. In 2024, FDA identified the source in 77% of outbreaks. In 2025, that number has fallen to 36%. Meanwhile, the CDC has reduced active surveillance from six foodborne pathogens to just two.
We’re entering a new era where federal food safety nets are shrinking at the exact moment risks are rising. States and brands will bear the brunt, but consumers pay the price in lost trust, preventable illness, and slower recalls.
Where could this go next?
⚠️ Patchwork food safety enforcement at the state level
🚨 More outbreaks slipping through detection
📉 Erosion of consumer confidence and brand reputations
The food industry must double down on its own safety protocols, transparency, and traceability—because the federal backstop is no longer reliable.
2) GRAS No More? Refined Carbs Face a Regulatory Reckoning
A citizen petition from former FDA commissioner Dr. David Kessler is calling to revoke the GRAS status of refined carbohydrates, arguing that science from 50 years ago doesn’t account for today’s chronic exposure, synergistic additives, or long-term health outcomes.
If approved, this could disrupt the baking and processed foods industries—and force reformulations at scale. While the FDA’s response may take time, the signal is clear: regulatory tides are shifting.
Where could this go next?
🔁 Demand for “slow carbs” and whole grains may rise
⚠️ New scrutiny of legacy ingredients across CPG portfolios
📜 Regulatory precedent for re-evaluating long-standing GRAS rulings
🥖 Reformulation efforts across bakery and snack categories
This isn’t just about carbs—it’s about how science, law, and public health concerns are converging to challenge business-as-usual.
Anchored Insight: Tech Launches
University of Copenhagen: Developed a new method to upcycle PET plastic waste into a material called BAETA, which captures CO2 with high efficiency, instead of ending up as microplastics in the environment
NoPalm: Convert whey permeate, a byproduct of cheese production, into palm oil substitutes, produces oils and fats identical to conventional palm and tropical oils but without palm-derived raw materials
Culinary Tides in the News
- Culinary Tides, Buona Companies, Roll Mobility leaders to give executive perspectives at Fast Casual Executive Summit – fastcasual.com
- Economic stressors altering 2025 food trends – foodbusinessnews.net
- Caution advised when making GLP-1 labeling claims – foodbusinessnews.net
- Asian Cuisine and Flavors Dominate Global Foods – todaysdietitian.com
- What’s Currently Trending in Tea? – worldteanews.com
- Forecasting flavors: The taste of 2025 – fastcasual.com
- Flavor Trends: What to Expect in ’25 – supermarketperimeter.com
Culinary Snapshot
Tide’s Table
Each month, Culinary Tides is taking you on a flavorful journey with our recipe feature! Inspired by the tides of trends, these recipes are crafted to bring a touch of charm to your table. From bright beverages and delicious desserts to hearty dishes and sides, there’s something fresh and exciting waiting for you in every edition. Dive in and make waves in your kitchen!
This month we celebrate dessert! Have you tried this?
Free Downloads!
3 Ways to Successfully Navigate Trends: How Foresights Shape the Future of Your Business
6 MUST Ask Questions to Make Your Next Workshop A Success
🚨 Ready to Make Smarter Moves in 2025? 🚨
The 2025/26 Shifting Sands Yearly Trends Report from Culinary Tides, Inc. & Menu Matters is your unfair advantage for food & beverage innovation.
✅ Save Time & Money: We’ve analyzed 241 trusted sources so you don’t have to. Focus your resources on what matters most.
✅ Find the Trends That Fit You: Our searchable database helps you pinpoint the food, beverage, health, tech, and consumer trends aligned with your goals.
✅ Move at Your Pace: Whether you’re a bold Trendsetter or a cautious Follower, discover trends that match your risk comfort and help you navigate change confidently.
✅ Action, Not Just Insights: You get 5 hours of expert support to translate insights into strategies, so you can launch products with confidence and reduce guesswork.
Get ready to future-proof your next move.
The Shifting Sands report doesn’t just track trends—it helps you win with them.
Watch the video for a preview of the report:
We recognize that you’re inundated with data and information, without the time or resources to sort through it all. Your main objective is to craft impactful solutions that resonate and succeed. Culinary Tides, Inc. streamlines this process by combining deep expertise, focused research, a fresh way of thinking, and a strong commitment to every client relationship, enabling your organization to move from overloaded to equipped.
Culinary Tides, Inc. is booking meetings now for those curious about our services:
