From burgers to breaded mackerel: how Croydon is fighting the fat
On one of London’s unhealthiest high streets one in four children is obese, but now the council has stepped in
Why we fell for clean eating
The long read: The oh-so-Instagrammable food movement has been thoroughly debunked – but it shows no signs of going away. The real question is why we were so desperate to believe it
A danger to public health? Uproar as scientist urges us to eat more salt
Exclusive: In a new book a US scientist claims eating more salt will make us healthier. But UK experts have condemned the advice as potentially dangerous
‘Is food medicine? The question has never been so current or so contentious’
Comment: Food can heal, but its role in nourishing the body and mind has long since been lost among an avalanche of fads and quackery. It’s time to prescribe a dose of sensible eating
Do kimchi and other fermented foods give you more fizz?
Products such as kombucha, kefir and sauerkraut are growing in popularity, propelled by health claims and increasing knowledge about the microbes in our guts. But do they justify the hype?
Is washing-up liquid left on dishes a health hazard?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific concepts
High-fat oil and low-paid farmers: the cost of our coconut craze
The health implications of coconut oil have been much discussed – but supermarket shelves still groan with coconut products. Meanwhile, many growers earn less than $1 a day. Should we turn our back on this runaway trend?
Coconut oil: are the health benefits a big fat lie?
It’s the latest ‘superfood’, endorsed by wellness bloggers and celebrities, yet it contains more saturated fat than lard
‘I’m eating pork pies like two decades of vegetarianism never happened’
Pregnancy brings with it cravings, aversions and a nostalgia for the food of one’s childhood – scotch eggs, fish and chips, or more meat than seems reasonable
It’s in smoothies, toothpaste and pizza – is charcoal the new black?
The latest food and beauty fad doesn’t just look good on Instagram, it comes with dubious health claims too. Is it just a gimmick to absorb maximum cash from gullible consumers?