Health Halos and Cyber Threats in the Food Industry
India's food safety landscape is a cautionary tale for health and wellness brands, highlighting the need for evidence-backed claims, transparent labelling, and robust traceability.
As demand for health and wellness foods grows, packaging and labelling claims are increasingly shaping how consumers perceive a product's health and safety. However, wellness positioning can sometimes move faster than scientific validation, said Ashwin Bhadri, founder and CEO of Equinox Labs, a food safety, water, and air testing laboratory based in Mumbai.
The Dark Side of Health Halos
Wellness positioning can sometimes move faster than scientific validation, said Ashwin Bhadri, founder and CEO of Equinox Labs, a food safety, water, and air testing laboratory based in Mumbai.
The chemicals should be removed at the source, before they have a chance to contaminate food
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals that repel oil and water and resist heat. Because of their resilient chemical structure, they remain in the environment for a long time, and are known colloquially as ‘forever chemicals’. They can often contaminate food.
Cyber Threats in the Food Industry
From suppliers to retailers, no part of the food and beverage industry is safe as cyber attacks escalate.
Over the past year, we’ve seen every stage of the industry impacted - from suppliers right through to retailers. And the situation is escalating fast, with majors including Coca-Cola and Heineken attacked.
Food Safety and Cybersecurity
Asahi is banking on growth in its beverages business as well as its new East African acquisition to fuel recovery and get back on track after its infamous 2025 cyberattack.
Asahi was the unfortunate victim of a major cyberattack operation in September 2025 that nearly crippled operations and led to one of the most well-publicised instances of profit loss directly linked to cyber crime in the food industry in recent years.
Bioactive Benefits without Compromising Food Safety
By preserving naturally occurring milk exosomes that conventional processing often destroys, biotech startup Exosomm says it can help manufacturers deliver clinically relevant bioactive benefits without compromising food safety, shelf life, or scalability.
“Exosomes are tiny particles that are found in many liquids, even in your body, and they are nature’s oldest and most sophisticated communication system,” CEO Rachelle Neumann said.
The food and beverage industry is facing a perfect storm of challenges, from cyber threats to PFAS contamination and the need for robust traceability and transparent labelling. As the industry continues to evolve, it's clear that food safety and cybersecurity will be top priorities for manufacturers and consumers alike.
