Mengniu steps up health and nutrition push at 2026 Winter Olympics
Mengniu will supply dairy products to athletes and fans during the 2026 Winter Olympics, linking the move to its health and nutrition strategy.
The Olympic partnership is intended to reinforce Mengniu’s positioning around nutrition, product quality and functional health on a global stage.
The dairy giant said its products will also reach international Olympic audiences, extending its nutrition-focused positioning beyond athletes.
This aligns with Mengniu’s broader strategy to strengthen its health- and nutrition-led product portfolio across mass, premium and functional dairy segments.
Child obesity surge fuels push to restrict unhealthy food packaging
A 2025 UNICEF report revealed that childhood overweight and obesity in East Asia and the Pacific has more than doubled in the past two decades, with over 113 million children and adolescents now affected.
As obesity rates climb, experts focus on packaging as a strong influence on children’s choices – both as a risk factor and a tool to promote healthier diets.
Research findings from Jiangsu’s Global Health Research Centre of Duke Kunshan University indicated that on-pack labelling was the second most effective method to regulate sugar sweetened beverages, after health education. Restricting access ranked third, while marketing restrictions and taxation ranked fourth and fifth respectively.
3 must-watch emerging food & drink categories for growth in 2026
One of the emerging categories for growth is the basic concept of ‘food as medicine’. It has roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other ancient forms of medicinal systems for thousands of years – but this has undoubtedly seen a resurgence in recent years.
Unsurprisingly, China is leading the charge here from a policy and governance aspect, with the central government announcing a renewed interest in this sector via the Food As Medicine (FAM) or 药食同源 national campaign.
This has led to many large and small food companies scrambling to come up with novel innovations that fall under the FAM category, most of which have a health and/or functional focus.
5 key APAC food & beverage trends to watch in 2026
One key trend involves brands tapping on the modernisation of traditional products to attract younger consumers, with a lot of this innovation happening in China.
One example is China’s Herbal Player, which has rolled out a raft of modernised ginseng-based products such as ginseng sodas and effervescent drinks.
Similarly, China’s Meta Liquor launched a modernised sparkling baijiu into the market this year, reinventing the country’s representative spirit traditionally known to be very strong and high in ABV.
Gut-muscle axis: Soy protein intake improves muscle health in seniors
Chinese researchers found that soy protein–rich dietary intervention may reduce the presence of pathogenic bacteria, attenuate inflammatory responses and enhance gut and muscle health.
A total of 84 seniors aged 60 and above took part in the 12-week clinical trial, where they were randomised to take soy protein-rich diets or stick to their usual diet.
Overall, the researchers said the results suggest that a soy protein-rich diet could help reduce harmful gut bacteria and dampen inflammation, with possible benefits for gut and muscle health.