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Comedian reveals unsavoury truth of food production

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

With his gangly frame and thick-rimmed spectacles, Alex Riley makes an unlikely assassin. Unfortunately for Britain's £182bn-a-year food and drink industry, his wisecracks about its unsavoury practices in a new BBC TV series are little short of deadly.

Asda recalls figs after maggots found

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:21:54 GMT

Asda advised customers today to return figs to the supermarket after maggots were found.

Michelin-starred chef forced to close restaurant

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:42:01 GMT

A Michelin-starred chef has been forced to temporarily close his restaurant after more than 80 customers were taken ill after eating there. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) was called in to investigate at The Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire, after an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea.

Top food firm switches to sustainable palm oil

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

A leading food manufacturer says it will switch to a "sustainable" source of palm oil for its most famous brands, such as McVitie's, Jaffa Cakes and Penguin.

Ingrid Newkirk: You can't be a meat-eating environmentalist

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:46:08 GMT

Lord Stern has just given environmental leaders food for thought and an important topic to discuss at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Stand aside, Jamie. Here come the junior chefs

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

With their penchant for throwing hissy fits and random items of kitchen equipment, childish behaviour comes naturally to most chefs. This perhaps goes some way to explain why the average age of Britain's newest foodies is plummeting. Children as young as two years old are moving quickly from smearing food around their plates to prove their gourmet credentials, inspired by television programmes and a range of specialist classes, according to cookery experts.

Win a hi-spec retro style coffee machine

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:22:10 GMT

Nothing beats the rich and sensuous aroma of freshly ground beans or the dark notes that waft from a recently poured cup of coffee in the morning. However, when making your own coffee at home it can be difficult to recapture that professionally made flavour most of us enjoy from our high street chains.

Chinese food ousts Indian as Britain’s favourite

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:35:50 GMT

Sales of Indian food have been surpassed by Chinese fare in the UK, signifying that Hoisin sauce and not curry sauce is the nation’s favourite du jour.

Posh gin from London garage bucks the trend

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:00:16 GMT

The history of London’s gin industry is peppered with tales of small-scale producers boiling up heady spirits in tiny sheds. So it was natural that the authors of an attempt to reinvent the practice would set up their venture in a tin-roofed suburban garage in Hammersmith.

The best gift bar none? Beer vouchers

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

People unsure about what gifts to buy for friends and relatives have long relied on woefully unoriginal presents such as book tokens and high street store vouchers. Now, they will be able to provide their loved ones with something they might really want – Pub Vouchers.

Co-op takes top prize in animal welfare awards

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The Co-operative Group has won an animal welfare award sponsored by The Independent for improving the lives of 20 million chickens.

A vintage year: France anticipates finest Bordeaux wines in 60 years

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Perfect weather conditions – a fine summer followed by dry, cool nights in September – could make the 2009 bordeaux vintage one of the best on record, according to local wine experts.

Co-op wins animal welfare award

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:49:58 GMT

The Co-operative Group has won an animal welfare award sponsored by The Independent for improving the lives of 20 million chickens.

Bug found in two-thirds of supermarket chicken

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A food poisoning bug that causes nasty bouts of illness in more than 400,000 people every year is present in two-thirds of supermarket chicken, a survey showed yesterday.

Stay happy – eat Mediterranean

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Still not convinced by the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet? Now there is another reason to follow it: it makes you happy.

The Big Question: Why are bananas so cheap, and what does it mean for producers?

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Why are bananas so cheap, and what does it mean for producers?

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Why are we asking this now?

Stay happy – eat a Mediterranean diet

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Still not convinced by the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet? Now there is another reason to follow it: it makes you happy.

Warning on danger of salt in bread and cereals

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Bread and breakfast cereals contain levels of salt that are high enough to damage health, the Government will warn in an advertising campaign that starts today.

We'll drink to that: pubs hail the return of real ale

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

After years in the wilderness, fans and brewers of Britain's national drink have a perfect excuse for a party: consumption of bitter has risen for the first time in nearly three decades.

England's winemakers enjoy bumper crop

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:16:23 GMT

It wasn’t the “barbecue summer” promised by the Met Office. It was sunny at first, and it was sunny later, but July was so wet it ruined many holidays. Yet this mixed bag of weather was perfect for one set of people – England’s winemakers.

England’s winemakers enjoy bumper crop

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:16:23 GMT

Restaurant chain in service charge U-turn

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:00:01 GMT

One of the country's leading restaurant chains has abandoned its 12.5 per cent service charge in a move that hands back control of tipping to diners.

The £80 curry taking India by storm

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:00:01 GMT

If the price of what might be the world's most expensive takeaway chicken curry seems somewhat unlikely, then so too are the ingredients.

Bumper crops expected for English vineyards

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:42:39 GMT

English grape growers began their annual harvest today as industry experts predicted that home-grown wine production will almost double in the next six years.