The Food Chain
Food
About
The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.
Episodes
- Rethinking the potato
This episode of The Food Chain explores the history and global journey of the potato, from its ancient origins to its modern resurgence. It examines its role in the global food system, its nutritional aspects, and ongoing efforts to conser…
- The food writers
This episode of The Food Chain features Melissa Clark, Laura Rowe, and Malin Turunen, who share insights into their experiences as food writers. They discuss their career paths, the influence of their work on public taste, and the signific…
- Can we eat for exam success?
This episode of The Food Chain investigates whether certain foods can aid exam success. It explores the impact of diet on students during exam season and discusses eating habits under pressure and the concept of brain foods.
- How to eat more fibre and why you should!
This episode of The Food Chain discusses the importance of dietary fiber and practical ways to increase daily intake. It features insights from fiber expert Professor Joanne Slavin, dietitian Fathima Abdoola, and psychologist Phillippa Lal…
- So you think you can't cook?
Many people feel they can't cook. This episode explores the reasons behind this lack of confidence and offers practical advice from culinary experts on how to overcome the fear of cooking and build essential skills. The discussion includes…
- Is kitchen culture changing?
This episode of The Food Chain investigates whether professional kitchen culture is evolving. It discusses allegations against a well-known chef and features three chefs who share their experiences and perspectives on transforming kitchen…
- How to have a stress-free family meal
This episode of The Food Chain explores ways to have stress-free family meals. Experts provide advice on handling fussy eaters and engaging all family members at the dinner table. Ruth Alexander seeks out advice on creating a positive dini…
- What to eat to run a marathon
This episode of The Food Chain discusses marathon nutrition, covering what runners should eat to train for and complete a marathon. Guests include Paula Radcliffe, Steve Cram, and Valentijn Trouw, who share insights on fueling, common nutr…
- Giving it all up for food
This episode of The Food Chain features three people who left high-paying careers to start new ventures in the food industry. They discuss their journeys of building restaurants and bistros, from a child protection barrister opening an Ind…
- The story of the sandwich
This episode of The Food Chain explores the history and cultural significance of the sandwich, including its origins and diverse variations. It features discussions with food historians, chefs, and sandwich creators about its evolution and…
- Small kitchens
This episode explores how individuals adapt to cooking in small kitchens across various locations. It features examples from professional chefs and home cooks residing in urban environments and informal settlements.
- The risk takers
This episode features business owners sharing the risks they have taken to establish their food companies, including financial challenges and personal sacrifices. They discuss the difficult decisions that shaped their entrepreneurial journ…
- How to write a recipe
This episode of The Food Chain investigates the process of writing recipes. It explores how instinctive cooking is translated into instructions, the essential elements of a recipe, and the evolution of recipe writing.
- Can you learn to love the foods you hate?
This episode of The Food Chain investigates the origins of strong food dislikes and whether these can be overcome. It features insights from neuroscientists and psychologists on the brain's role in food preferences, and dietitians sharing…
- Fermented foods: A beginner's guide
This episode of The Food Chain offers a beginner's guide to fermented foods, including how they are made, their health benefits, and practical advice on home fermentation. It features discussions with fermentation experts and producers of…
- Dinner unboxed
This episode explores the global rise of meal kits, examining their prevalence, operational models in different markets, and implications for changing cooking habits and online food platforms. It features insights from industry leaders and…
- Should we all eat the Mediterranean way?
This episode of The Food Chain discusses the Mediterranean diet, its health benefits, and its history, including its popularization by Ancel Keys. Experts also explore how the diet's principles can be adapted to different cultures and the…
- Tweaks for 2026: How to eat better
This episode of The Food Chain, hosted by Ruth Alexander, focuses on actionable nutrition advice for 2026, covering topics like brain nourishment, portion control, and the importance of fiber. Experts contribute insights on small dietary c…
- Family ties
This episode of The Food Chain, titled "Family ties," explores the role of food in family life, showcasing how food strengthens bonds and shapes lives through various intimate stories. It highlights food's power to connect people during or…
- What is the ultimate hangover cure?
This episode of The Food Chain investigates the scientific aspects of hangovers, including bodily processes, individual susceptibility, and remedy efficacy. Discussions cover alcohol metabolism, preventive consumption, and the cultural his…
- Food heroes and villains
This episode of The Food Chain investigates the spread of nutritional misinformation on social media, where foods are often labeled as heroes or villains. It discusses the potential impact of such claims on listeners' dietary habits. The p…
- How to eat well in the cold
This episode explores how people eat well in extremely cold environments, featuring a scientist studying the body's reaction to cold and interviews with residents of the Arctic circle about their culinary practices and favorite warming foo…
- To tip or not to tip?
Ruth Alexander explores the global art and etiquette of tipping, examining its variations across different cultures. The episode discusses what gratuity means to servers and bartenders and how it impacts their interactions with customers.
- The servers: The highs and lows of waiting on tables
This episode of The Food Chain features Ruth Alexander speaking with restaurateurs about the highs and lows of waiting tables. Guests include Fred Siriex, Gauri Devidayal, and Michael Cecchi-Azzolina, who share insights into the service in…
- Food by drones?
This episode of The Food Chain investigates the use of drones for food delivery, from urban areas to remote locations. It explores the feasibility, advantages, and limitations of this technology, featuring examples from around the world.
- Turmeric: The golden spice
This episode of The Food Chain explores turmeric, examining its historical uses in food and medicine and discussing scientific findings regarding its fabled medicinal qualities. The discussion includes whether turmeric lattes and supplemen…
- The chefs
This episode of The Food Chain features three celebrated chefs, May Chow, Chantel Dartnall, and Sean Kenworthy, discussing their careers. They share insights into the demands of the job, their passion for cooking, and how chef culture has…
- The coffee habit: Why do we love it so much?
This episode of The Food Chain explores the history of coffee, tracing its origins from Ethiopia and examining its cultural significance and widespread appeal. It also investigates the effects of daily coffee consumption on the human body…
- The power of pepper
This episode of The Food Chain investigates pepper, from its cultivation and harvesting to its historical significance and diverse flavors. It explores how pepper can be used to make food tastier and healthier.
- How (not) to complain
This episode of The Food Chain discusses how to complain effectively in restaurants. Restaurateurs share experiences with outrageous complaints and the "weaponisation" of online reviews. Advice is given on how to voice concerns calmly and…
- Portion size: How much should you eat?
This episode of The Food Chain investigates portion sizes, examining the phenomenon of "portion distortion" in the United States and comparing cultural differences in eating habits across various countries. It also delves into the psycholo…
- Dining etiquette: What really matters?
This episode of The Food Chain discusses dining etiquette, examining what is considered polite across different cultures. It includes insights from etiquette experts, students, and restaurateurs on various mealtime behaviors and managing d…
- How to set a food trend
This episode of The Food Chain discusses how food trends are created, featuring examples like Dubai chocolate, hot honey, and fruit sandos. It includes insights from creators and product developers on the extensive work involved in popular…
- Flavour: The potato chip story
Ruth Alexander explores the story of the potato chip, tracing its history from 19th-century New York. She investigates global flavor development with a chef from Frito-Lays and discusses the role of crisps in modern life with snack expert…
- Should I eat breakfast?
This episode of The Food Chain explores the question of whether to eat breakfast, considering factors like high prices, busy lives, and intermittent fasting. Experts discuss the impact of skipping breakfast and offer insights on what and w…
- Bottom trawling and the future of global fish supplies
This episode of The Food Chain discusses the practice of bottom trawling, its destructive impact on marine environments, and its effects on global fish supplies and the livelihoods of small-scale fishers. It features perspectives from fish…
- Making care home food better
This episode of The Food Chain investigates improving food quality in elderly care homes. Guests discuss issues with inadequate diets and initiatives to enhance nutrition and comfort for residents.
- Garlic: Food or medicine?
This episode of The Food Chain explores the history and cultural significance of garlic, from its ancient medicinal uses to its modern culinary applications. It investigates whether garlic is truly beneficial for health.
- The anti-dementia diet
This episode of The Food Chain explores the potential of diet to prevent dementia. Guests include Professor Christy Tangney, co-creator of the MIND diet, Professor Anne-Marie Minihane, and Dr Lizette Kuhn, a dietitian.
- Eating well with dementia
This episode of The Food Chain discusses how dementia can affect eating and mealtimes. It features interviews with individuals living with dementia, their families, and experts, who share their experiences and techniques for navigating the…
- India's caste system and food
This episode of The Food Chain explores the foods of India's Dalit community, historically at the bottom of the caste system. It discusses how many dishes evolved from necessity and the discrimination faced by Dalit individuals in their co…
- A place at the table: fostering and adoption
This episode of The Food Chain explores the role of food in fostering and adoption, focusing on how mealtimes can create a sense of safety and belonging for children entering care. It features accounts from foster parents, care leavers, an…
- Protein v fibre
This episode of The Food Chain investigates the nutritional importance of protein versus fibre. The discussion includes insights from food and nutrition scientists, authors, and market research professionals.
- Video game food
This episode of The Food Chain discusses the significance of food in video games, examining how it is conceptualized and implemented in games like Fallout and The Outer Worlds. It also explores the process of adapting video game food into…
- The story of your plate
This episode of The Food Chain examines the history of pottery, exploring its evolution from ancient earthenware to porcelain. It discusses how dinnerware reflects societal values and changing consumer tastes through interviews with expert…
- Thai food: Winning hearts and minds
This episode of The Food Chain examines Thailand's long-term policy of promoting its food culture globally to increase trade and tourism. It explores how food serves as a foreign policy tool, influencing public perception, and discusses th…
- AI in the food chain
This episode explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the global food industry. It covers AI's role in recipe experimentation, food waste reduction, and supply chain optimization, with insights from various industry experts and ch…
- The buyers
This episode of The Food Chain explores the role of food buyers. Host Ruth Alexander interviews a tea buyer from Kenya, a cacao bean sourcer, and a frozen seafood trader from Thailand about their work.
- May contain: The food allergy risk
This episode of The Food Chain examines the experience of living with food allergies, from diagnosis to daily challenges like shopping and dining out. It also discusses the rise of food allergies globally and issues surrounding "may contai…
- Let food do the talking
This episode of The Food Chain explores how food can convey messages when words are insufficient. It delves into food's role in cultural expressions, protests, and mourning traditions across different societies.