Russia's retail trade turnover grew 7.3% year-on-year to 5.77 trillion rubles ($72 billion) in June 2026, with non-food goods accounting for 53.2% of the total.
The state FDA suspended the food license of Mumbai's K Rustom & Co ice cream parlour due to serious hygiene violations, including rats, houseflies, and expired products. The iconic establishment faces suspension until deficiencies are rectified.
India's FSSAI has issued show-cause notices to Lotte India, Ferns N Petals, and Kubera Foods for misleading food labels. Products were falsely advertised as '100% Natural' or 'Premium Chocolate' while containing undeclared ingredients or preservatives.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to several food brands, including Heritage Fresh Paneer and La Casa vegan hazelnut chocolate spread, for making misleading claims on their packaging regarding freshness, organic content, and vegan status. The regulator is cracking down on deceptive labeling practices across the food sector.
China's General Administration of Customs has introduced a "green channel" for African coffee, chillies, and cashews, granting continent-wide market access to all 53 African nations with diplomatic ties. This streamlined process bypasses bilateral negotiations by applying uniform SPS standards, with dried chillies already seeing increased exports from Rwanda and Uganda.
The UK's record-breaking heatwave is causing significant economic disruption, with economists warning of productivity losses and damaged growth. The situation highlights inequalities in flexible working and the absence of maximum temperature regulations in many workplaces.
Ten years after Brexit, columnist Larry Elliott restates his leftwing case for leaving the EU, arguing Europe isn't working economically and Brexit offers an opportunity for Britain to pursue a different economic model.
Italy has signed a decree to bolster Consortia for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) products. The new measures aim to modernize these consortia, enhancing promotion, sustainability, and the protection of Italian geographical indications, a market valued at €20.7 billion.
A new issue of the American Journal of Public Health reveals how tobacco companies like Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds used strategies developed for selling cigarettes to market ultra-processed foods (UPFs), including Lunchables, to children. These strategies focused on optimizing formulations for rapid reward and creating addictive products. UPFs are linked to increased risks of dementia, cognitive decline, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
Russian Duma Vice-Speaker Boris Chernyshov has proposed mandating transparent packaging or packaging with a transparent window for bulk food products like grains, sugar, flour, and pasta. The initiative aims to increase market transparency and consumer trust by allowing visual inspection of product quality before purchase.
CJ Cheiljedang Corp. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnamese supermarket chain Bach Hoa Xanh to expand its Korean food product offerings through the retailer's network. The partnership aims to diversify beyond frozen and chilled foods to include shelf-stable products and processed meat. The company has recorded average annual sales growth of around 40 percent in Vietnam over the past four years.
Delhi Police Crime Branch has dismantled two illegal manufacturing units, seizing 1.5 lakh counterfeit ENO and Nescafé sachets. The operation underscores the growing risks of food adulteration in India and provides consumer guidance on detecting fake coffee.
