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
Gallup: Fewer Americans are drinking alcohol than at any point in nearly 90 years, with just 54% reporting alcohol use, down from 62% in 2023
Snapchat, BBDO NY: 76% of Gen Z actively avoid ads on social media, 70% assign more status to figures who advocate for global causes, 59% assign less status to those flaunting wealth, 60% say they only buy from brands that reflect their values
Regulatory Ripples: Government Updates
USA: Imposed a 15% tariff on alcohol imports from the EU, threatening the bloc’s €29.8 billion ($24.7 billion) export industry.
USA: CDC stopped tracking listeria and five other foodborne illnesses as of July 1, narrowing its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) to only Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
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 Below to Watch ~ Sip Savvy: Hijacking Drink Trends to Reveal Consumer Drivers for Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic Tea Beverages ~
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) When AI Becomes a Mirror: The Risk of Mistaking Tools for Truth
A chilling story out of New York: one man’s thought experiments with ChatGPT spiraled into an AI-fueled delusion. He believed he was freeing a sentient “digital god.” It’s an extreme case—but the underlying risk is far more common in product development and strategy circles.
Just because AI can generate an idea doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Without proper foresight, teams may fall victim to AI hallucinations, data drift, or delusions—believing they’ve struck gold when they’re chasing vapor.
Where could this go next?
🔍 More companies mistaking AI output for validated insight
🚧 Internal workflows that over-index on generative tools without strategic guardrails
🧭 A growing need for human foresight to separate signal from mirage
AI is a powerful ally—but it’s not a compass. You still need a seasoned foresight guide to avoid getting lost in the illusion.
2) Silencing the Signals: Why Cutting Listeria Tracking Endangers More Than Data
The CDC is no longer tracking listeria as part of its FoodNet surveillance program—silently dropping six key pathogens due to funding issues. This comes just months after a deadly listeria outbreak in 2024 led to 9 deaths and a massive 7-million-pound deli meat recall.
Listeria isn’t just another bug on the list—it’s a lethal threat to vulnerable groups like pregnant women, newborns, and immunocompromised individuals. Removing federal surveillance doesn’t make the threat disappear—it makes it harder to see coming.
Where could this go next?
⚠️ State and regional surveillance gaps widen
🚫 Delayed outbreak detection and slower recalls
🧯 Growing risk to brand trust and food safety credibility
Now more than ever, brands must double down on their own proactive food safety systems. You can’t monitor what you’re not measuring—and silence is not safety.
Anchored Insight: Tech Launches
Green Protein Alliance, ProVeg Netherlands: Created a “Protein Tracker” to help retailers and foodservice providers measure the ratio of plant-based to animal-based protein sales
Nourish Ingredients: Tastilux, an animal-free fat designed to replicate the cooking qualities of animal fat, has received generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status
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 Spicy! 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.
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The Shifting Sands report doesn’t just track trends—it helps you win with them.
Watch the video for a preview of the report:
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