Today in the EU

The term “novel foods” is becoming more popular by the day. But to make it to the European supermarkets it needs to be assessed by the EU food safety authority and then get the greenlight from the European Commission. Novel foods include innovative products like cricket flour and UV-treated vegetables, as well as traditional foods from other regions, such as chia seeds. 
While some novel foods are embraced by the agriculture industry, others, particularly alternative proteins, have sparked heated debates and political tensions. But why do these novel foods provoke such strong reactions and how is Europe navigating this culinary evolution. 
To understand these controversies, we spoke with our Agrifood reporter Sofía Sánchez Manzanaro.  

What is Today in the EU?

Today in the EU is the first daily podcast dedicated to politics and policy in the European Union. Every morning at 6 am, hosts Evi Kiorri and Giada Santana, in conversation with Euractiv’s specialised journalists, discuss the latest in the EU bubble. Tune in to be informed about what is going on in the EU, in less than fifteen minutes.

The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including EU politics and institutions, elections, shifts in political power among EU parties (EPP, PES, ALDE, GUE, Greens), G7, EU enlargement, member states, economics, finance, tech regulations, environmental policy, climate change, agrifood, agriculture policy, health, and pandemic treaties.

Featured guests include international political leaders and EU regulators like Ursula Von Der Leyen, Josep Borrell, Pedro Sanchez, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders, Donald Tusk, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Joe Biden.

Euractiv’s analysis is enriched with the latest reports from esteemed international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and European institutions.

The production team includes producers Nicoletta Ionta and Miriam Saénz de Tejada, along with hosts Evi Kiorri and Giada Santana.