These Lab-Controlled Microbes Can Make Any Chocolate Taste Gourmet
From hints of citrus to caramel, premium chocolate’s complex flavors derive from fermenting microbes on cocoa bean farms—and a new study suggests they can be grown on demand in the lab
This Mushroom’s Incredibly Bitter Taste Is New to Science
The first analysis of mushroom bitterness reveals ultrapotent compounds
Where Did Bird Flu Go?
Bird flu was nearly everywhere in the U.S.—in chickens, cows, pet cats and even humans. Cases have gone down, but experts warn that it hasn’t disappeared
How to Grill Meat Safely—According to Science
Food microbiologists explain how to ensure different proteins, such as beef, chicken and pork, are prepared safely
Science-Backed Ways to Stay Healthy during Salmonella Outbreak in Eggs
To prevent Salmonella food poisoning, refrigerate your eggs, cook them well, never eat them raw and clean, clean, clean
How Much Ultraprocessed Food Do You Eat? Blood and Urine Record It
A new study suggests blood and urine samples could provide an objective measure of diets and help unravel their connections to disease
Bird Flu Vaccine for Cows Passes Early Test
Researchers have tested an mRNA vaccine against avian influenza in calves with promising results
Why Ozempic and Wegovy Might Change Some People’s Favorite Foods
Some users of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have been reporting strange changes in food preferences, such as a new dislike for meats or fried foods, and scientists are beginning to figure out why
What We Know about Artificial Food Dyes and Health as RFK, Jr., Declares a U.S. Ban
This week the secretary of health and human services announced plans to remove eight more food dyes from the U.S.’s food system
RFK, Jr., Wants to Make Baby Formula Safer, but Trump Budget Cuts Imperil That Effort
A new Trump administration health initiative called Operation Stork Speed aims to improve the safety of infant formula and reduce contamination risk, but budget and staffing cuts may hinder that
Are Foodborne Illnesses and Deaths in the U.S. Worsening? New Data on Recalls Explain
Despite headlines, there were fewer food recalls in 2024 than in 2023, but more people died from food poisoning linked to outbreaks
How Do You Cook a Perfect Egg? Scientists Have Figured It Out
Materials scientists have found a way to perfectly cook an egg white and egg yolk simultaneously