January in review: Challenges to US food and nutrition security, Ceasefire brings aid to Gaza

In January’s major health and nutrition industry news, the US pulled out of the WHO, while high amounts of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in US tap water were linked to rising indices of cancer. At the same time, researchers from Romania called to counter the health effects of unrealistic beauty standards propagated on social media, the return of Donald Trump to the White House sparked food and nutrition security fears, and the Israel-Hamas ceasefire allowed aid to flow back into Gaza.

In our January review, Nutrition Insight looks back at some of the month’s biggest stories, including ADM’s forecast for personalized pet nutrition, Roquette’s persona-driven AI platform, and a newly released “TrueFood” database.

Meanwhile, we looked at Beneo’s latest low-glycemic syrup for pet foods, and we talked with the director of the AI Institute for Next-Generation Food Systems (AIFS) about AI-powered nutrition.

January
ADM forecasts personalized and wellness trends rising in pet nutrition
ADM’s latest pet nutrition report highlighted the growing trend of pet humanization, with owners prioritizing high-quality nutrition, preventative care, and mental well-being. We sat down with Guillaume Maio, the food company’s marketing manager for EMEA Pet Nutrition, to discuss how consumers increasingly seek functional ingredients in pet products, focusing on digestive health, joint support, and emotional wellness. Additionally, Maios revealed that personalized pet nutrition, based on species-specific needs, is also gaining traction, as is the demand for scientifically backed supplements like probiotics and calming chews. Despite economic concerns, he stressed that 72% of pet owners prioritize pet food quality, and 79% invest in preventative care.ADM forecasted a rise in consumer demand for personalized pet nutrition and wellness products.

Innovating nutrition: Roquette boosts consumer engagement with AI technology
Roquette is leveraging AI-driven persona technology to create personalized food concepts that align with diverse consumer preferences. Its AI-powered video platform enhances consumer engagement by showcasing market trends, ingredient details, and realistic product visualizations. We caught up with Valérie Le Bihan, Roquette’s head of customer marketing in Europe, who talked with us about accelerating innovation, refining formulations, and optimizing creativity by integrating AI into product development. Le Bihan said the company combines AI insights with human expertise to ensure relevance and reliability and emphasized that future AI applications will include predictive maintenance, supply chain optimization, and enhanced food safety monitoring.

Researchers call to counter unrealistic social media beauty standards to improve healthy eating
A Romanian student survey confirmed that social media influences eating behaviors and body image, and promotes food restrictions as “natural” to meet beauty standards. We sat down with one of the authors, associate professor Dr. Alina Zaharia, from the Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy at Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania, who called for interventions to foster positive body image and mental well-being. She pointed out that the study’s results show that women face higher pressure and body dissatisfaction, leading to restrictive eating and emotional eating. Zaharia said the study recommends reducing social media exposure, encouraging outdoor activities, debunking “magic formulas” for weight loss, and advocating for educational programs, national strategies, and therapy groups to counteract social media’s impact.

Forever chemicals in US tap water linked to high incidences of certain cancers, researchers warn
A study from the Keck School of Medicine links manufactured PFAS-contaminated drinking water to a 33% higher incidence of certain cancers in the US. The results found that PFAS, found in consumer products and 45% of US water supplies, accumulate in the body and may contribute to over 6,800 cancer cases annually. Researchers mapped PFAS exposure to increased cancer rates, noting different risks by sex. Males faced higher prevalence of leukemia and urinary cancers, while females had increased thyroid and throat cancers. Furthermore, the study showed that current Environmental Protection Agency regulations, set until 2029, may be insufficient and called for stricter limits and further studies to confirm causality and explore biological mechanisms.The Israel-Hama war ceasefire allowed much needed food, supplements, and humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Beneo unveils low-glycemic antioxidative syrup for pet food to replace glucose and caramel
Beneo introduced BeneoCarb S, a low-glycemic syrup derived from sugar beet, to improve pet food, especially semi-moist and moist products. The company stated that this natural alternative to glucose syrup and caramel offers health benefits, such as aiding in weight and blood glucose management for pets, and addresses rising consumer concerns about pet obesity. Beneo highlighted that the new offering serves as a natural coloring agent and binder, with antioxidant properties that improve pet food stability and reduce microbial growth, and pointed out that, despite rising pet food costs, owners continue to prioritize quality, nutritional value, and health benefits, fueling demand for premium pet food ingredients.

UN delivers food and supplements in Gaza after Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) was able to provide urgent food aid to Gaza following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire allowed the delivery of essential supplies, and WFP sent over 150 food trucks, offered transport services, and distributed food parcels, wheat flour, hot meal ingredients, and nutrition supplements. WFP stated that the humanitarian crisis was at a critical point, with over 90% of the population facing acute food insecurity. It revealed that an additional US$300 million is needed to continue its operations through June. WFP added that while food aid is reaching Gaza, securing border crossings and safe movement for aid teams remains essential.

Trump returns: Presidency to challenge food, nutrition and health regulations
Donald Trump returned to the White House as the US President, which many organizations feared would lead to significant changes in food and nutrition policies. Executive orders impacted the Paris Climate Agreement, WHO, and food regulations. Key areas of interest included ultra-processed foods (UPFs), nutrition standards, alternative protein labeling, traceability, and food date labeling. The FDA is expected to focus on post-market chemical assessments, including food additives and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) substances, and the agency revealed that the administration may reconsider the FDA’s “healthy” claims update and address labeling for cultivated meats and plant-based foods. Trump’s proposed nominations and policy reforms, like the Make America Healthy Again initiative, will shape future regulations.A recent study found cancer-linked forever chemicals in US tap water.

“TrueFood” research database ranks processed foods to unlock healthier choices
A team of US-based researchers developed GroceryDB, a publicly available database that ranks 50,000 processed foods from Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart based on ingredients, nutrition, and prices. Using the FPro algorithm, the database assigns a processing score to foods, helping consumers understand their degree of processing. We sat down with co-author Giulia Menichetti, Ph.D., an investigator in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who told us that the tool empowers consumers, informs public health initiatives, and aims to improve food environments. The FPro score evaluates nutrient configurations and offers a holistic view of food quality. Menichetti said the team hopes the database will drive more data-driven insights, support healthier food choices, and guide interventions to reduce the health risks linked to UPFs.

US faces global health isolation as Trump withdraws from WHO
On his first day in office, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from WHO, citing dissatisfaction with its handling of global health crises, including COVID-19. This marks the second attempt to exit the organization, which was reversed by former President Joe Biden. WHO said it regrets the decision and emphasized the importance of global health cooperation, particularly for US citizens. WHO said the US was a key contributor to the organization, and its withdrawal will impact global health efforts, while experts warned that isolation from WHO could harm both the US and the world’s ability to address future health threats.

UC Davis Institute targets next-gen food systems with AI-powered nutrition
The AIFS, based at UC Davis and backed by the USDA, told us that it aims to revolutionize food production and nutrition using AI. We talked with Ilias Tagkopoulos, Ph.D., AIFS director, who revealed that AIFS focuses on developing healthier, sustainable, and affordable food. Through AI tools like FoodAtlas, Tagkopoulos said the institute maps food-chemical-health relationships to better understand food’s impact on health. He also emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary research and industry collaboration and noted that, while AI in food lags behind other sectors like pharma, AIFS seeks to transform the industry by improving food quality, reducing waste, and making nutritious foods more accessible for everyone.