The Food Chain

Chinese food, despite its health focus and gastronomic skill, has been undervalued in the West. Featuring interviews with a British food writer, a Michelin-starred chef, and a CEO of a Chinese-Peruvian restaurant, the podcast explores the complexity and diversity of Chinese cuisine. Topics include tofu, the misunderstood nature of Chinese food, the evolution of a family-owned restaurant, ordering tips, and debunking misconceptions about Chinese cuisine.

Explore the science behind breeding new apple varieties and the challenges of selling them. Learn about the tradition of Wasailing in the UK and the impact of climate change on apple farming.

Learn about different methods of food preservation used around the world, including pickling, dehydrating, and canning. Explore the resurgence of home food preservation and the concept of rebel canning. Discover the significance of pickles in Indian cuisine and the personal touch of homemade pickles. Dive into the art of preserving food through drying and its benefits in Japanese cuisine.

Two Ukrainian families displaced by war reflect on their second year away from home. They discuss the challenges of being separated from loved ones and finding comfort through cooking. Topics include escape journeys, settling in new countries, the emotional significance of ceramic mugs, a Ukrainian psychologist's rewarding work, adjusting to new homes, celebrating Ukrainian heritage, and New Year wishes and promotions from the BBC World Service.

Discover favorite festive foods from around the world and the significance of communal dining. Explore cultural traditions and the difference between homemade and outsourced food. Learn about cooking pilau in Nairobi, the tradition of orthogidori in Japan, and share festive food stories for Christmas.

Explore the relationship between our gut and brain, and the impact food can have on our alertness, mood, and memory. Learn about the importance of balanced eating, omega-3 fatty acids, and various nutrients for brain health. Discover the foods that aid in brain injury recovery and the power of incorporating brain foods into our diets. Hear about the benefits of cooking fresh meals at home and the need for more public health messaging on the connection between brain health and nutrition.

Experts discuss the challenges of cooking with polluting fuels and stoves, health issues caused by household air pollution, sustainable solutions like bioethanol cook stoves in Kenya and solar cookers, as well as the difficulties in implementing cleaner cooking solutions and addressing the issues of unsustainable wood stoves and solar cooking.

Countries exporting banned pesticides, impact on Paraguay's small farmers, health risks and environmental concerns, inadequate regulations and personal accounts, concerns over children's death, impact on biodiversity, implications of exporting banned pesticides

Heng Ou, a Chinese-American author, shares her postpartum experiences and the role of food. Allison Oman Lawi from the World Food Programme explains nutritional needs after giving birth. Mengqi Wang breaks the strict dietary rules in a postpartum clinic. The podcast discusses the importance of postpartum nutrition and explores cultural traditions and practices for new mothers.

The European Union wants to introduce one system for scoring the sustainability of food products. The new requirements are likely to be introduced in 2024. Currently there are a number of different labels and symbols used on food packaging across Europe, and there is concern that this can lead to confusion for consumers and can be open to exploitation. Russell Padmore travels across Ireland, hearing about the pros and cons from farmers, food producers, restaurants and consumers. If you’d like to contact the programme you can email thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk Produced and presented by Russell Padmore. (Image: a woman looking at the label on a can of food, holding a shopping basket. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)