India health halo, Asahi cyberattack, PFAS and more feature in this edition of Safety First
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Health halos in India, Asahi cyberattack, PFAS and more feature in this edition of Safety First
Bursting the health halo: Insights from India’s food safety landscape
India’s food safety landscape highlights why health and wellness brands need evidence-backed claims, transparent labelling and robust traceability
As demand for health and wellness foods grows, packaging and labelling claims are increasingly shaping how consumers perceive a product’s health and safety.
But wellness positioning can sometimes move faster than scientific validation, said Ashwin Bhadri, founder and CEO of Equinox Labs, a food safety, water and air testing laboratory based in Mumbai.
Asahi eyes beverage growth in East Africa for cyberattack rebound
Asahi is banking on growth in its beverages business as well as its new East African acquisition to fuel recovery and get back on track after its infamous 2025 cyberattack
Asahi was the unfortunate victim of a major cyberattack operation in September 2025 that nearly crippled operations and led to one of the most well-publicised instances of profit loss directly linked to cyber crime in the food industry in recent years.
Can PFAS be kept out of food?
The chemicals should be removed at the source, before they have a chance to contaminate food
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals that repel oil and water and resist heat. Because of their resilient chemical structure, they remain in the environment for a long time, and are known colloquially as ‘forever chemicals’. They can often contaminate food.
Can dairy retain its bioactive benefits without sacrificing food safety?
By preserving naturally occurring milk exosomes that conventional processing often destroys, biotech startup Exosomm says it can help manufacturers deliver clinically relevant bioactive benefits without compromising food safety, shelf life or scalability
“Exosomes are tiny particles that are found in many liquids, even in your body, and they are nature’s oldest and most sophisticated communication system,” CEO Rachelle Neumann said.
Cyberattacks surge as food and beverage becomes prime target
From suppliers to retailers, no part of the food and beverage industry is safe as cyber attacks escalate
Over the past year, we’ve seen every stage of the industry impacted – from suppliers right through to retailers. And the situation is escalating fast, with majors including Coca-Cola and Heineken attacked.
