AGP Executive Report

Texas Consumer Protection: Texas AG opened wide investigations into major tampon and cosmetics brands, probing whether “clean/non-toxic” and chemical-safety claims may mislead consumers after a 2024 UC Berkeley study found heavy metals in many tampons. Food Safety & Produce: Cyclospora cases are surging across the U.S., with experts urging Minnesotans not to abandon fresh produce—just follow good handling and track recalls. Regulatory Health Tech: FDA approved Freenome’s SimpleScreen CRC blood test for average-risk adults 45+ to expand noninvasive colorectal cancer screening options. ADHD Drug Approval: Otsuka won FDA approval for centanafadine (SIMTRIYO) for ADHD in adults and kids 6+—a notable new mechanism for clinicians. Food Supply Chain & Policy: B.C. launched a six-week engagement on expanding food processing in the Agricultural Land Reserve to boost jobs and resilience amid trade uncertainty. Recall: Maple Leaf Foods recalled 12,000+ pounds of imported bacon after an import reinspection violation; no illnesses reported. School Nutrition Gap: A Johns Hopkins study found many teens order food via delivery apps during school hours, often fast food and drinks that school nutrition rules don’t cover.

Food Safety & Regulation: Georgia postponed key restrictions on single-use plastic food containers and cups, pushing the container ban to Jan 1, 2027 and cups to July 1, 2027, while delaying plastic-bottle drink rules to 2031 after consultations with industry. Public Health & Food Policy: Ghana’s Medical Association urged extending a Styrofoam phase-out to cover all single-use plastics, linking poor disposal to clogged drains and worsening floods. Food Security & Supply Chains: Bangladesh targets expanding food grain storage capacity to 34 lakh tonnes over five years, citing current stocks above safe reserve thresholds. Agrifood Trade: Georgia is setting up a permanent public-private platform to boost agrifood exports to the EU, aiming to improve competitiveness and food-safety compliance. Industry & Consumer Pressure: U.S. grocery prices jumped 33% over seven years, with climate shocks, conflicts, and tariffs cited as drivers. Agriculture Innovation: Malaysia’s FAMA will bring 343 top agri and food entrepreneurs to MAHA 2026, while SAFMA’s “People’s Fish Programme” in Sabah supports affordable protein and fishermen’s incomes.

Food Imports & Policy: The Philippines’ meat imports rose 12% in H1 2026 to 872,274 metric tons, with pork up 11% to 455,381 MT as African swine fever keeps domestic hog output below full productivity; President Marcos Jr. also expanded the minimum access volume for lower-tariff pork under EO 116. Food Safety & Illicit Practices: Zimbabwean chicken farmers reportedly buy antiretroviral drugs on the black market to mix into feed, aiming to protect birds and boost growth—raising serious public health and drug-resistance concerns. Regulation for Biotech Crops: India’s agriculture stakeholders called for science-based, faster approvals for GM and genome-edited crops, urging a more efficient, transparent, risk-proportionate framework while keeping biosafety high. Nutrition Funding Pressure: The UN warns a 2026 funding shortfall in Afghanistan could cut nutrition support for 5.7 million children and mothers, worsening malnutrition risks. Food Affordability Tools: Bahrain plans a daily government price site for 30 basic foods, forcing stores to publish up-to-date listings and helping shoppers compare costs quickly. Agri Support in Nigeria: Kaduna State launched free fertiliser and tractors for 150,000 smallholders, continuing multi-year input support to protect cultivation and output.

El Niño Shock to Africa’s Food Systems: The AfDB warns a “super” El Niño could cut GDP across hard-hit African countries by 1%-2% (about $10B-$20B), with knock-on damage to food and water security plus pressure on government finances. Farm Economics & Fair Pay: Ireland’s farmer ambassador Carina Roseingrave says new policies must reward farmers for rising input costs and unpaid labor, so family farms can stay viable. UK Retail Taste Test: Which? crowned Aldi and Lidl own-brand baked beans top performers in a blind test, beating Heinz on both flavor and value. Pollination Logistics for Almonds: Millions of varroa-mite-free WA bees are being trucked across the Nullarbor to protect South Australia’s almond crop. Food Safety Outbreak Watch: The US cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce is expanding to more states, keeping food handling and recall readiness in focus. Street Food Boost in Thailand: Thailand launched a street-food app and certification scheme to help small vendors meet standards, market to tourists, and grow sales. Food Prices Bite in Leisure: Disneyland raised prices across hundreds of menu items, with some snacks up as much as 25%, adding to summer cost-of-living pressure. Pesticide Backlash in France: French beekeepers are furious after parliament reauthorised two pesticides they say can poison bees, despite prior bans.

US-India Trade Talks: Five rounds have failed to resolve agricultural market access, with an Aug. 1 deadline looming over a possible 26% tariff on Indian exports—soybeans, corn, dairy, poultry and GM crops are at the center of the standoff. Food Safety: The FDA and CDC expanded a cyclosporiasis investigation tied to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, now reaching nine states and nearly 2,000 reported infections linked to Taco Bell. Corporate Moves: Nestlé will transfer its bottled water brands (including Perrier and San Pellegrino) into a joint venture, Peranel, with Platinum Equity, aiming for a sharper water-focused growth push. Agri-Food Policy: Nigeria’s Tinubu urged universities to deliver evidence-based solutions for insecurity and food scarcity, pushing research into real-world policy and industry. Halal & Exports: Malaysia’s PM Anwar says the country can become a global halal hub if certification is backed by industry capability and international collaboration. Local Food Systems: Malaysia’s Labuan plans to expand greenhouse farming to cut reliance on mainland food imports. Packaging & Industry Events: London Packaging Week returns with a bigger “Discovery” program for sustainability and innovation.

Food Safety & Recalls: Graham’s Family Dairy recalled semi-skimmed milk in the UK after trace penicillin risk for allergy sufferers, with affected pack sizes and best-before dates only. Retail Nutrition Push: Sainsbury’s rolled out “Full on Fibre” labelling across 600 stores, covering 500+ products to tackle low UK fibre intake and confusion over fibre sources. Power & Food Business Pressure: Nigeria’s electricity instability is forcing frozen-food operators to lose stock and spend more on fuel, squeezing already tight margins. Circular Economy in Packaging: Indorama Ventures launched a zero-waste-to-landfill initiative at its PETValue Philippines facility, partnering with a cement firm to recover non-recyclable bottle components. Seaweed Livelihoods: BFAR provided P600,000 livelihood packages to two Philippine fisherfolk groups to scale seaweed-based food processing with equipment and training. Food Supply Disruption (Cuba): Havana stores are struggling with cold-chain failures amid blackouts, leaving refrigerators empty and disrupting chilled food availability. Food Industry Tech/Privacy: Pronto expanded its AI camera rollout with an opt-in “Verified” home offering aimed at reducing false security alerts, reigniting privacy debate around in-home recording. Agri-Value Finance: Ghana is finalising a $500m World Bank-backed oil palm financing deal to expand plantations and strengthen the value chain.

Food Safety Watch: The FDA and CDC widened a Cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell, now reaching nine states and 1,947 reported infections, with 98 hospitalizations and no deaths; the recall remains in effect as investigators track additional cases. Regulatory & Health Policy: A federal FDA advisory panel narrowly backed easing restrictions on injectable peptides popular with wellness influencers, voting 8-6 to add certain compounds to the list allowed for pharmacy compounding—despite scientists’ safety and effectiveness concerns. Retail & Grocery Trends: A Coresight Research report finds U.S. food shopping is increasingly fragmented, with Walmart leading recent purchases (65.1%), followed by Kroger (24.8%) and ALDI (23.3%), while digital grocery sales are growing faster than overall grocery. Trade & Supply Chain Pressure: Trump announced a Section 301 probe into the EU over Big Tech fines, adding to broader tariff uncertainty that could ripple through food supply chains. Food Industry Policy: Canada’s National Food Security Strategy aims to boost grocery competition, domestic production, year-round fruits and vegetables, and reduce red tape—though industry groups want more support for expanding processing capacity. Animal Welfare & Luxury Foods: Brazil signed a law banning foie gras sales and production, ending imports of the French delicacy and escalating tensions with France.

Energy & Food Costs: Oil pushed back above $100 a barrel amid Middle East tensions, and reporting links the jump to higher costs for fuel-dependent goods like groceries and school supplies, with knock-on effects expected for consumers. Fuel Price Pass-Through: Nigeria saw fresh petrol hikes as ex-depot PMS prices rose in Lagos and other hubs, with Dangote refinery resuming gantry loading in naira—another pressure point for food logistics. Tariffs & Trade Friction: The US imposed new forced-labour-linked tariffs on 60 partners; food exemptions include items like oranges, juices, nuts, guavas, mangoes and papayas, but the broader move raises uncertainty for agri-food supply chains. Food Supply Support: Malaysia’s Penang approved a one-off RM500 cash grant for 6,572 padi and vegetable farmers to ease living costs and protect local supply. Workforce for Agri-Food: Malaysia’s TVET outcomes show agriculture employment rising (61% in 2018 to 76% in 2024), though it still trails the national average—highlighting a skills gap. Consumer Trust in Brands: A US viral claim says major grocery brands may share suppliers before relabeling, reigniting debate over how different “brands” can be in practice. Food Safety & Water: A One Health push in Central Asia spotlights zoonotic disease prevention and food safety, while broader coverage flags worsening water resilience risks for food systems.

Food Safety & Outbreak Response: Taylor Farms temporarily shut its Central Mexico shredded-iceberg-lettuce facility tied to a growing U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak, as CDC counts climbed to thousands across dozens of states and Michigan reported thousands of cases. Retail & Consumer Pressure: Albertsons shares slid after the grocer cut forecasts, blaming cautious shoppers hit by higher gas and food costs and shifting demand toward Walmart/Amazon and discount formats. Regulation & Color Additives: The U.S. FDA moved to remove Orange B authorization and target Citrus Red No. 2, continuing a broader push on outdated or risky food color approvals. Nutrition Science: A new study found a whole-fruit Chardonnay grape marc blend beat a polyphenol-rich seed extract on post-meal triglyceride response, adding fuel to the “food matrix” debate. Livestock Inputs Market: A report projects the global feed amino acids market rising from $6.9B (2026) to $10.1B by 2033, driven by livestock nutrition and efficiency goals. Policy & Food Systems: Nigeria’s food-system overhaul strategy was launched, while the Lagos Chamber urged data-driven monetary policy to protect exchange rates and ease inflation pressures on agriculture and refining.

Regulation Crackdown (Nigeria): NAFDAC has launched a nationwide enforcement to seize and stop sale of banned sachet and small-bottle alcohol under 200ml, targeting production, importation, distribution and retail. Inflation Watch (Singapore): Core inflation in Singapore rose to 1.6% year-on-year in June, with food and services among the drivers, while headline inflation edged up to 1.9%. Pet Food Expansion (Nestlé Purina): Nestlé Purina will invest about £478M in a new Mantova, Italy wet pet food factory, adding logistics capacity and boosting Europe production. Food Safety Policy (US): The FDA is holding a two-day meeting on whether certain peptides can be compounded by pharmacies, amid safety concerns and limited human trial data. Aquaculture & Fisheries (Tanzania/Japan): A five-year Lake Victoria fisheries research program will use DNA-based monitoring (eDNA) to improve stock management and sustainable harvesting. Packaging & Processing (LG Electronics): LG is scaling functional materials production in Haiphong, Vietnam, including antibacterial/antifungal additives for food packaging and easy-clean coatings for cooking appliances.

Foodpro 2026 Countdown: Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry is converging on Melbourne for foodpro 2026 (26–29 July), spotlighting processing, packaging and innovation. FDA & Food Safety: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s resignation is framed as a handoff after major reforms, including faster drug review timelines and AI-related work—watch how that policy momentum spills into broader regulatory culture. Agri-Funding: Canada’s FedNor is pumping $500,000 into a Northwestern Ontario food hub in Kenora to help Indigenous-led agri-food entrepreneurs scale production, access equipment and win retail/foodservice contracts. Ingredients & Testing: bioMérieux launched a PCR solution to verify probiotic species in dietary supplements in 90 minutes or less, aiming to protect label claims. Natural Ingredients M&A: SuanNutra is acquiring IFF’s specialty natural ingredients businesses, expanding clinically supported branded ingredients and extraction/fermentation capacity. Supply Chain & Security: A U.S. GAO report finds Amazon and gig delivery workers increasingly rely on SNAP and Medicaid, underscoring pressure points in food-adjacent labor markets. Food Safety Outbreak Watch: The cyclospora outbreak is tied to human-waste contamination risks, with cases topping 7,000 as investigations continue. Policy & Plastics: Alaska’s House passed a bill to phase out single-use polystyrene foam food service ware, moving the fight against microplastics to the Senate. War Impact on Food Industry: A Russian strike hit a food industry enterprise in Zaporizhzhia, starting a fire and injuring three.

Halal Franchise Push (Malaysia): Pernas will debut “Bizfrancais” at PIHEX 2026 (July 24-26) to expand halal and shariah-compliant franchise opportunities, featuring 25 local entrepreneurs and brands including D’Sara Fried Chicken and Penawar Klinik. F&B Trade Momentum (Malaysia): SIAL Network ASEAN & India expects Food and Drinks Malaysia sales to top last year’s US$265m target despite supply-chain and cost pressures, with visitor numbers forecast up 20%. Livestock Traceability Drive (Kenya): Kenya’s new meat strategy centers on ANITRAC digital animal ID and traceability, aiming to meet export requirements and grow the sector toward a Sh1tn goal. Legal Pressure on Big Meat (Netherlands): Greenpeace filed in Dutch court to force JBS to disclose details tied to a US$2.5bn expansion plan, including major Nigeria spend. Food Safety Recall (UK): Waitrose recalled 8 Chocolate Chip Brioche Rolls due to possible hard plastic and metal contamination. Convenience Food Outlook (UK): Greencore lifted profit guidance after stronger trading and Bakkavor integration, citing demand for quiche, sushi and chilled dips. GLP-1 Snack Shift (US): Jackson’s saw an 85% spend uplift from GLP-1 users, signaling healthier-leaning snacking demand rather than a demand collapse. Weather Risk to Food (India): India stepped up El Niño/monsoon preparedness for Kharif, with sowing still behind last year despite improving rainfall. Retail Price Watch (US): A new basket comparison names Kroger the cheapest store-brand grocery essentials list at $30.

Tariff Shock for Food Exports: Trump’s new, narrowly targeted 50% tariffs on items including honey and liquor (with no CUSMA exemptions) could hit about 5% of Canada’s exports to the U.S., adding fresh pressure to agri-food supply chains. Food Safety Crackdown: Maharashtra’s FDA seized 1,731 litres of milk and suspended 16 eateries over hygiene violations, while Bangladesh rolled out new rules requiring food businesses to register or get licences. Climate Risk to Food Supply: Zimbabwe unveiled a six-point drought plan as El Niño threatens 2026/27, and India’s edible oil sector faces renewed strain from monsoon disruption and oilseed shortfalls. Quality and Fraud Watch: A UC Davis study found 89% of packaged products claiming “avocado oil only” were adulterated with cheaper oils. Supply Chain & Trade Moves: Malaysia-Russia trade rose 7% in Jan–May, with Malaysia exporting processed foods and halal products; Cambodia’s PPF Yummy is scaling Khmer ingredient brands to supermarkets and five export markets. Regenerative Farming Push: ADM, General Mills and Walmart will transform 40,000 acres of wheat with regenerative agriculture practices. Consumer Health Alert: Consumer Reports found inorganic arsenic in every tested rice product, with many brands exceeding levels that could raise long-term health risk.

Water Policy: Malaysia’s PETRA will study a national Industrial Water Reclamation Policy over at least 12 months, explicitly calling out guidance for the food and beverage sector and other water-intensive industries. Frozen Food Trends: UK operators and consumers report frozen dessert quality issues tied to melting and temperature swings, with research suggesting sales could rise if delivery and consistency risks are controlled. Foodservice & Catering: Compass Group stuck with full-year profit guidance after a strong Q3, citing 7.1% organic revenue growth and a growing pipeline—key for foodservice operators watching demand and outsourcing. Local Baking Buzz: Glasgow’s McGhee’s Bakery is driving social-media frenzy with an empire-biscuit ice cream sandwich launch. Food Supply & Security: Zimbabwe’s ARDA and GMB expanded grain deliveries to bolster food security and strategic reserves. Ethanol & Food Security (India): India says 20% petrol ethanol blending hasn’t harmed food security or water sustainability, and it’s still undecided on raising the blend rate. Packaging Industry (Angola): Angola inaugurated a glass container plant to support local food and beverage packaging capacity and standardization. Regulatory/Recall Watch: FDA listed a GE HealthCare recall for certain portable imaging systems due to a potential safety mechanism failure.

Food inflation pressure: A mid-year restaurant survey from R365 says 87% of operators saw higher food costs in H1 2026 and 78% expect more increases into year-end, with many leaning on menu price hikes and other cost controls. Policy push on farm power and labor: U.S. Sen. Peter Welch reintroduced the Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act and the Agricultural Worker Justice Act, aiming to curb consolidation and tighten labor and safety requirements for major food companies. Food safety and recalls: The FDA walked back a positive lab test in a lettuce cyclospora outbreak, while separate reporting flags that food and drink recall events hit a six-year high. EU trade for sweets: Caobisco backed advanced EU-Thailand free-trade talks, arguing tariff cuts could boost European chocolate, biscuits and confectionery exports. Energy shock hitting food systems: B.C. fruit growers warn stage 3 water restrictions threaten crops and food security, as drought and climate stress compound supply risks. Cash aid tied to fuel costs: Philippines’ DSWD kicked off UPLIFT cash payouts (P2,000 monthly for July–December) to near-poor and 4Ps households across pilot areas. E-commerce rules for delivery: Kuwait issued a new framework for electronic platforms and delivery intermediaries, requiring transparent pricing and fees before orders are confirmed.

Food Aid & Security: Philippines’ DSWD and PNP are ramping up enforcement for the expanded UPLIFT cash program, with 3.5M 4Ps/Walang Gutom households getting ₱2,000 and other eligible groups receiving ₱2,000 monthly from July–December, using Land Bank or GCash for payouts. Agri-Food Promotion: Malaysia’s Road to MAHA Labuan 2026 (July 23–26) will spotlight food security and innovation, modern livestock, aquaculture/tuna, agrotourism, SMEs and youth, plus a “Labuan Food Empire” zone and an “Eat More Local Fruits” campaign. Citrus Regulation: U.S. final rule modernizes the pasteurized orange juice brix standard, lowering the minimum from 10.5% to 10% to better match current growing conditions and support Florida growers. Packaging & Foodservice Supply Chain: Lordos United plans to buy 51% of Cyprus’ P&S Carton Industries to expand paper-packaging for food, retail and pharma; separate industry news highlights new sustainable paper-cup and packaging initiatives. Price Stability via Retail Networks: Indonesia is expanding its Warung Pangan partners (27,000+) through the ID FOOD app to stabilize prices in traditional markets. Food Safety & Consumer Trust: Kerala’s health minister clarifies the state isn’t against free hospital food, but objects to political activity and encroachment, with a community kitchen planned.