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Artwork for The Food Chain

The Food Chain

BBC World Service
Ultra-Processed Food
Cooking From Scratch
Nova Food Classification System
Nutrition Labels
Health Issues
Societal Challenges
Public Health
Apple Industry
Chinese Cuisine
Child Nutrition
Pesticides
Mealtime Conversations
Traditional Healing
Maternal Health
Cultural Food Practices
Global Food Traditions
Postpartum Nutrition
Climate Change
Air Pollution
Mental Health

The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes512Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FoodArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Food Chain

Latest Episodes

How confident would you feel about complaining if a restaurant meal was not up to scratch?

Restaurateurs in the UK, South Africa and the United States compare stories of the most outrageous complaints they’ve received, and how they were dealt with.... more

How much food is the “right” amount - and why is it so hard to work that out?

Ruth Alexander explores the world of portion sizes, starting with the rise of “portion distortion” in the United States, where supersized sodas and giant restaurant plates... more

Listeners to BBC World Service told us they hate it when fellow diners chew noisily or talk with their mouth full. But what is polite at mealtimes can vary wildly according to where in the world you are and who you are with.

Ruth Alexander visits Lo... more

Have you tried Dubai chocolate, hot honey or the fruit sando? They’re just a few examples of viral food trends which got everyone talking on social media.

Rumella Dasgupta talks to creators and product developer to find out how much work goes into ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Good Food
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Recent Guests

Dr. Lisa Young
Registered dietitian nutritionist and author of The Portion Teller
New York University
Episode: Portion size: How much should you eat?
Professor Lenny Vartanian
Expert in the psychology of eating and weight management
University of New South Wales
Episode: Portion size: How much should you eat?
Dr. Marle Alvarenga
Registered dietitian nutritionist and expert in eating behavior
University of São Paulo
Episode: Portion size: How much should you eat?
Makoto Ehara
CEO and president of Calbee, a leading crisp manufacturer in Japan.
Calbee
Episode: Flavour: The potato chip story
Mark Huff
Owner and sommelier at Cork of the North
Cork of the North
Episode: Flavour: The potato chip story
Jolene Ng
Principal analyst at the market research company Mintel, specializing in salty snacks.
Mintel
Episode: Flavour: The potato chip story
Natalie Whittle
Food journalist and author of 'Crunch, The History of Crisps.'
Episode: Flavour: The potato chip story
Mitchell Dingwall
Flavor innovator at PepsiCo's Culinary Innovation Department.
PepsiCo
Episode: Flavour: The potato chip story
Jenny Martinez
Content creator focused on Mexican food.
Episode: Flavour: The potato chip story

Host

Ruth Alexander
Host of The Food Chain, engaging audience with insightful discussions about food's cultural significance.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Crisps

    Why did we have to listen to someone pretending to make a crisp sandwich and then pretending to eat it? Ludicrous!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    hannakuso
    United Kingdom16 days ago
  • Not listening anymore

    I used to listen to it, but the BBC’s disgraceful handling of the ongoing genocide in Palestine made me stop consuming anything they produce. Goodbye.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Gariraygua
    Spain3 months ago
  • Pay an actual artist

    Love the show but not the recent ai slop cover “art”

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Leeroy1289
    United States10 months ago
  • Great

    I love this podcast, every episode is so interesting and Ruth Alexander is a fab presenter.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnYaLt
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Food Chain

    One of my favorite podcasts! I love the variety of topics! Very good BBC production. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    757 Mum
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners express a concern regarding specific topic choices, indicating a desire for a focus purely on cultural and historical aspects of food.
Listeners appreciate the diverse range of topics and the insightful discussions, often highlighting the podcast as informative and engaging.
Many praise the host's presentation style and the depth of research behind each episode.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#50
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#11
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#80
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#97
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#11
Australia/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Portion size: How much should you eat?
Q: So if somebody is worried that they are overeating, what advice would you have for them about how to approach large portions?
The onus shouldn't solely be on the consumer; they need better information and practical strategies to manage portion sizes effectively.
Portion size: How much should you eat?
Q: How much is on your plate or in your cup can actually tell you a lot about the culture you're in?
Cultural factors and commercial interests significantly influence portion sizes, leading to differences in what is considered normal in various countries.
How to set a food trend
Q: Pierre, you've been working on a product that you think could be the next big thing, haven't you?
Fonio is a climate-friendly ancient grain that is versatile and gluten-free, gaining recognition in the food market.
How to set a food trend
Q: Katie, what would you define as a food trend?
A food trend is the big thing in the market and in the industry that everyone is talking about.
Should I eat breakfast?
Q: Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
There is evidence supporting that breakfast can have a significant impact on health and metabolism, especially when it comes to eating earlier in the day.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Food Chain

What is The Food Chain about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the multifaceted world of food, this podcast explores the intersection of culinary practices, nutritional science, and the cultural significance of meals. Episodes feature discussions with experts ranging from nutritionists and chefs to community leaders, shedding light on the complexities of food production, consumption, and its impact on society. Topics covered include everything from the importance of breakfast and dietary choices affecting cognitive health, to the ethical dimensions of food sourcing and culinary diplomacy. Notable for its engaging storytelling and diverse range of subjects, this podcast is an insightful resource for anyone interested in the food industry and its broader implications on health and culture.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Food Chain?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Food Chain. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Food Chain and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Food Chain get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Food Chain, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Food Chain?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Food Chain, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Food Chain have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Food Chain has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Food Chain?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Food Chain:

1. The Food Programme
2. The Kitchen Cabinet
3. Good Food
4. Inside Health
5. Health Check

How many episodes of The Food Chain are there?

The Food Chain launched 11 years ago and published 512 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Food Chain?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Food Chain?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Food Chain from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Food Chain?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Food Chain. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Food Chain?

Recent guests on The Food Chain include:

1. Dr. Lisa Young
2. Professor Lenny Vartanian
3. Dr. Marle Alvarenga
4. Makoto Ehara
5. Mark Huff
6. Jolene Ng
7. Natalie Whittle
8. Mitchell Dingwall

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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