Dry January beats Veganuary: 33.4% of Brits said they are taking part in Dry January this year versus 18.8% for Veganuary, a new poll has found. Improving physical health was the top reason for taking part in both. [Source: The Grocer]
Reasons to quit: 23% of Brits quit new healthy habits after just seven days and one in 10 abandon a health kick on the first day, according to research from Co-op. Lack of motivation is the biggest reason, followed by boredom and stress. [Source: PA Media]
Premium pizza boom: Sales of Finest Italian pizzas are up 15% year on year at Tesco, while premium pizzas at M&S are up 10%. Premium pizzas are also doing well at Waitrose, which says some flavours in its No.1 range are up 25% year on year. [Source: FT]
Cracking down on UPFs: 59% of UK adults say ultra-processed foods feel impossible to avoid when shopping on a budget and over a third support the idea of banning them, according to a survey. 77% want warning labels to on foods containing ultra-processed ingredients. [Source: ITV]
Healthier ageing and UPFs: Cutting back on ultra-processed foods improves several important health markers in older adults, new research has suggested. Those eating fewer UPFs lost weight, reduced abdominal fat and showed meaningful improvements in insulin sensitivity, cholesterol levels and inflammation. [Source: The Conversation]
Back to basics: Pub chefs expect to offer more focused, pared-back menus in 2026, as some report growing customer fatigue with social media trends. Instead, focusing on the fundamentals and getting the basics right will be key. [Source: Morning Advertiser]
Shrinkflation frustration: A majority of UK consumers see shrinkflation as fundamentally unfair, research from Capgemini has found. 61% believe it is “very unfair” for smaller packs to be sold at the same price and 64% support retailers highlighting brands that have shrinkflated their products. [Source: The Grocer]
Nutrition confusion: 26% of Brits believe nutritional advice is often confusing or overwhelming and 21% say they do not know which sources to trust. The results come from a YouGov survey commissioned by Good Health, a new health-focused brand launched by the editorial team behind Good Food. [Source: PPA]
Cycle syncing: Food and drink products that align with menstrual cycles could become a new trend in women’s nutrition, experts predict. A US company has launched two protein powders formulated to support women during the ovular and follicular phases. [Source: Food Navigator]
Creatine boom: Products such as creatine gummies are seeing huge growth in Europe as well as North America and could evolve into a major trend in 2026. In time, this could result in more creatine-enhanced food and drink products coming to market. [Source: NutraIngredients]
