We all know the four basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. For centuries, these have been the pillars of our culinary understanding. But there’s a fifth, and deeper flavour that brings a sense of rich, savoury satisfaction. That taste is umami . Umami was first identified over a century ago by a Japanese chemist named Kikunae Ikeda. He discovered that the unique, savoury flavour he found in traditional kombu (kelp) broth was due to a compound called glutamate. He name

There's a trade-off we make every day without much thought. We've bought into a world where fruit from distant lands sits polished and perfect, a symbol of modern convenience—but at what cost? The food - the vitamins, minerals and life force - is exposed to light and heat on its long journey. By the time it reaches us, it’s a shadow of what it once was. This is due to nutrient degradation, a process like oxidation that strips produce of its vital compounds the longer it's e

The food on our plates is a central part of our lives, yet what's actually in it is often a matter of public concern. In an article earlier this year, ' Have We lost Sight of What True Health Looks Like? ', our founder, Andrea Rasca highlighted the importance of this very issue, which is at the heart of our Movimento Metropolitano (MoM) ethos. The topic of ultra-processed foods ( UPFs ) has become a key part of this conversation. A more recent interview with New York Unive

Remember when food packaging was just… there? A silent guardian against the elements? Well, those days are long gone. In 2025, our relationship with what wraps our groceries is undergoing a radical transformation, driven by environmental urgency, tech innovation, and a demand for radical transparency. Real-Time Insights: Getting the Full Story From Your Food Wrap Forget passive layers of plastic. Today's food packaging is getting smart . Imagine scanning a QR code on your loc

Vitamin C for a cold – a comforting thought, isn't it? Carrots promising laser-like vision, courtesy of vitamin A? And the well-worn advice: chase the sunlight, eat the oily fish for that bone-strengthening vitamin D. We all nod along to the vital role of these invisible compounds. But have you ever stopped to truly consider the journey of these names, these simple letters that underpin our very well-being? When, precisely, did we stumble upon these fundamental keys to life

Imagine: no salt . No preserved foods, no ancient trade routes paved with salt blocks. From Roman soldiers' pay to our modern kitchens, this humble mineral has silently shaped human civilisation. This seemingly simple compound, sodium chloride , has a history richer than its flavour. Ancient civilisations valued salt for its preservative powers , making it crucial for feeding growing populations. Egyptians mummified with it, Romans paid soldiers with it – that's where "salary

Why Are Schools Neglecting Food Education? Schools in the UK and across Europe are uniquely positioned to shape public health, yet food education is often overlooked. Countries like Finland , where school meals are free and nutritionally balanced, and France , where nutrition is part of the national curriculum, show how prioritising food education can lead to healthier, more informed future generations. If countries like Finland can do it, why can’t we? Schools as the Front L

Soil is vanishing—and with it, the bedrock of our food supply. Yes, you read that right: the very dirt under our feet, the silent stage for 95% of the food we eat, is slipping away. According to the UN, a third of the planet’s soils are already degraded . Over half of our agricultural land is tapped out, with 90% of fertile land set to collapse by 2050 unless we rethink our relationship with the earth. Let that sink in. A world without soil as we know it. The food system we r

A revealing investigation by The BMJ , led by journalist Sophie Borland, uncovers serious concerns about the influence of the ultra-processed food (UPF) industry on public health and nutrition policy. Campaigners argue that these conflicts of interest are harmful to public health, while defenders claim they arise from inadequate funding for nutrition research.  UPF companies exert significant power over health policies and research, often prioritising profits over public wel