Food

West Bengal's school meal shift rekindles debate over food, identity

The battle over West Bengal's political future may have ended, but one of the assembly poll campaign's most emotive themes has resurfaced in school kitchens. The BJP government's decision to engage ISKCON to provide cooked mid-day meals in schools under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area and replace eggs with vegetarian alternatives has reopened a wider debate over nutrition, culture and identity. The move revived memories of the poll-season clash when fish became a political symbol, and the TMC accused the BJP of seeking to impose a vegetarian cultural template on West Bengal. Presenting the state's first budget after the BJP's victory in the assembly polls, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced that the material cost for primary school mid-day meals would be increased from Rs 6.78 to Rs 10 per student and that ISKCON would be entrusted with supplying cooked meals under a pilot project in the KMC area. The enhanced allocation was welcomed across the political spectrum. Bu

Extreme heat threatens livelihoods, global food systems, warns UN

Recent climate datasets show global warming is accelerating, with 2025 ranking among the three hottest years on record, triggering more frequent and severe weather extremes

How West Asia war crippled an Asian food giant and shook global supply | US-Iran war

The West Asia conflict is no longer just a geopolitical crisis. It is now disrupting global food supply chains. From fuel shortages to fertiliser spikes, Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, a key rice exporter,

Modern-age hospitality is more than front office, rooms, and F&B

In this session, Pranav Dangi, Founder & CEO of Hosteller, shares his thoughts on the evolving travel and tourism space and provides career tips

College hostels revise menus, explore alternatives as LPG crunch continues

Campus kitchens are shifting to electric systems and wood-fired backups to keep student meal services running

Odisha enters Guinness records with Pakhala Divas, serves over 1 tonne

State serves over 1 tonne of fermented rice dish to 2,000 people, blending cultural celebration, sustainability and outreach while promoting Odia cuisine globally

Chefs I wish I could kidnap: A culinary map of the world's finest kitchens

From Michelin-starred Europe to Mumbai's The Table, a globetrotting gourmand charts the world's most unforgettable fine-dining experiences

'Picky eating starts in womb': Here's how to expand your child's palate

People are born liking the taste of sweet and disliking the taste of bitter. These traits are thought to be protective in that they can help drive someone toward sources of calories

Hepatitis myths busted: Alcohol, transmission & liver health explained

Is hepatitis always caused by alcohol? Does it spread through touch or food? Can herbal remedies cure it? In this episode of our fact-check series, a liver specialist debunks common hepatitis myths

Regional dishes still rule Indian breakfast tables despite protein trend

Id Fresh Foods started selling rice batter for dosa and idli in 2005, identifying a white space in the packaged food market

How Galouti Kabab, Makhan Malai put Lucknow on the global cities map

Lucknow has been officially inducted into UNESCO's CCN under the 'Gastronomy' category, marking a major global recognition of its rich culinary heritage

GST cut puts insurance on par with food in fiscal policy, says IRDAI chief | BFSI Summit 2025

The government’s latest fiscal stance with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cut on health insurance has elevated insurance to the same priority level as essential goods like food

Food addiction: Snacks could trigger the brain like drugs, study shows

Multiple studies have also found that suddenly ending a diet that's high in sugar can cause withdrawal, similar to when people quit opioids or nicotine

HyFun Foods targets ₹1,500 crore revenue in FY26, aims IPO by 2028

The company stated that the funds raised through the IPO will be used to support ongoing expansion efforts to fully tap into the growth potential of the business

Why China's restaurants are facing social media outrage over pre-made food

A social media storm over 'pre-made' dishes and rising calls for transparency have hit China's restaurant chains just as the extended National Day holiday begins

WFI 2025: Taste the future with innovation, investment and opportunity

The remarkable success of PMFME micro-entrepreneurs demonstrates WFI's impact. Free stalls place them at the heart of the event, enabling connections with domestic as well as global giants

Big alcohol, tobacco and food firms obstruct vital health reforms, says WHO

In a separate report, the WHO found that $3 per person invested by governments on non-communicable diseases could save more than 12 million lives and generate $1 trillion in savings by 2030

New advanced chemical testing lab to enhance quality checks for food, water

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate a new chemical laboratory at the National Test House in Ghaziabad on September 10, as the country seeks to strengthen quality testing capabilities across various industries. The state-of-the-art facility will test packaged drinking water, natural mineral water, food packaging materials, and construction materials, including cement and metals, according to an official statement. The laboratory has received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards and holds approvals from the Bureau of Indian Standards, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and under the Fertilizer Control Order of 1985. Equipment includes atomic absorption spectrometers, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry systems, and high-performance liquid chromatography instruments to conduct sophisticated analyses across diverse sectors, the Food and Consumer ...

Health drives snacking choices for 72% of Indians: Consumer insights study

Makhana emerges as superfood, making up 19% of health snack market

10 Asthma Myths Busted: Inhalers, Exercise, Food & More | Fact-Check Friday

Still avoiding bananas because someone said they trigger asthma? Or worried that inhalers are “addictive”? In this Fact-Check Friday, we bust 10 common myths about asthma.