The Food Chain Podcast
The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.
Episodes to download
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Turmeric: The golden spice
Thu 6 Nov 2025
Rumella Dasgupta looks at the history of turmeric and its uses in both food and medicine
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The chefs
Thu 30 Oct 2025
Chefs from three continents tell Ruth Alexander what makes this demanding job so special.
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The coffee habit: Why do we love it so much?
Thu 23 Oct 2025
The story of why we love coffee, through history, tradition and science.
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How (not) to complain
Thu 9 Oct 2025
Believe it or not, restaurants really do want your feedback, but in-person, not online.
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Portion size: How much should you eat?
Thu 2 Oct 2025
How to make sure you鈥檙e eating the right amount of food
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Dining etiquette: What really matters?
Thu 25 Sep 2025
No elbows, no emojis: The new rules of table manners
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How to set a food trend
Thu 18 Sep 2025
How much work goes into creating the next big thing in food?
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Flavour: The potato chip story
Thu 11 Sep 2025
Ruth Alexander looks at why crisps are one of world's most enduring and popular snacks.
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Should I eat breakfast?
Thu 4 Sep 2025
What makes a healthy first meal of the day, and when to have it
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Bottom trawling and the future of global fish supplies
Thu 28 Aug 2025
What pressures are these fishing methods placing on oceans and those who depend on them?
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Making care home food better
Thu 21 Aug 2025
The people aiming to bring quality, nutritious meals for elderly residents in care homes
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Garlic: Food or medicine?
Thu 14 Aug 2025
A journey through this pungent bulb's history, culture and cuisine.
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India's caste system and food
Thu 24 Jul 2025
How social stigma impacted the cuisine of India鈥檚 Dalit community
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A place at the table: fostering and adoption
Thu 17 Jul 2025
How a simple plate of food can provide comfort, connection and a sense of belonging.
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Protein v fibre
Thu 10 Jul 2025
Is our preoccupation with protein overshadowing another nutritional essential 鈥� fibre?
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Video game food
Thu 3 Jul 2025
How do you bring a fantastical virtual food item to life in the real world?
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The story of your plate
Thu 26 Jun 2025
The history of dinnerware and what it says about the people who use it
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Thai food: Winning hearts and minds
Thu 19 Jun 2025
How a government used food to influence how you view the country
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AI in the food chain
Thu 12 Jun 2025
How is artificial intelligence rewiring the global food industry?
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The buyers
Thu 5 Jun 2025
We speak to three professional buyers about finding the best food at the best price
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May contain: The food allergy risk
Thu 29 May 2025
What it鈥檚 like to be diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies?
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Let food do the talking
Thu 22 May 2025
Does food have the power to send messages when words aren鈥檛 enough?
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Snackification: Our love affair with snacks
Thu 15 May 2025
How did snacking start and why do we do it?
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Stress, eat, repeat?
Thu 8 May 2025
What happens to our eating habits when we鈥檙e stressed, and how to change that
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A fresh start
Thu 1 May 2025
The bakeries and eateries employing staff with criminal records or history of addiction
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Food cottage industries
Thu 24 Apr 2025
We hear from the women making food products at home as a source of income
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What鈥檚 the future for Indigenous food?
Thu 17 Apr 2025
First Nations people in Canada talk about opportunities and barriers to food security.
Food Chain highlights
Tea, coffee, spices, chillies ... snack on a selection of programme highlights
