Functional Beverage Scrutiny: A new webinar spotlights how brands can formulate functional drinks while dodging legal risk around “zero sugar” and “sugar-free” claims tied to alternative sweeteners like allulose. Halal Trade Gateway: Brazil is using Malaysia’s MIHAS 2026 to pitch higher-value food and beverage manufacturing into Asia’s halal market. Food Safety Enforcement: A federal court consent decree halts Gold Star Distribution from shipping FDA-regulated products after persistent insanitary warehouse conditions, including major pest issues. Alcohol & Wine Industry Stress: Gundlach Bundschu Winery filed for Chapter 11, underscoring pressure on California wine businesses as demand softens. Distribution Automation: Hy-Tek Intralogistics launched Hy-Flo™ and Hy-Sync™ to help beverage distributors handle fast-growing SKU counts and labor constraints. Retail Low/No Push: Tesco backs Drinkaware’s “Find Your Balance” with a 20% Clubcard promotion on low and no alcohol products. Tourism & Wine Research: Macao University of Tourism won a Great Wine Capitals research grant studying shifts in Chinese outbound wine tourism behavior. India Labeling Setback: India toughened proposed front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods, moving to red symbols even when only one nutrient exceeds limits. Water & Health: Emory researchers plan a PFAS-removal clinical trial using cholesterol-lowering medication.