Food safety concerns broaden from recalls to traceability

Food safety pressure widened from the highest-risk egg recall to a broader cluster of contaminated products and demands for stronger traceability. At the same time, consumer-goods companies faced a two-sided squeeze as input costs rose while shoppers shifted toward private labels and challengers.

AI emerged as a new control point for product discovery, marketing measurement, formulation, and category management. Portfolio strategy also came under pressure, with Coty moving from managing the loss of Gucci Beauty to accelerating investment in owned brands.