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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
Societal Challenges
Health Issues
Public Health
Apple Industry
Chinese Cuisine
Child Nutrition
Pesticides
Mealtime Conversations
Postpartum Nutrition
Cultural Food Practices
Global Food Traditions
Maternal Health
Traditional Healing
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes524Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureFoodArts

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Artwork for The Food Chain

Latest Episodes

Ruth Alexander gathers the most useful, actionable nutrition advice from our episodes of 2025 to help set you up for 2026. Things like how to nourish your brain, keep an eye on portion sizes, and why it’s important to focus on fibre. Experts from aro... more

Food is at the centre of family life – on ordinary days, in the everyday rush, during the dramas, and the quieter moments too.

In this episode, Ruth Alexander looks back at some of The Food Chain's most moving and intimate moments of 2025, all reve... more

With the festive season approaching in parts of the world, Ruth Alexander explores what’s actually happening in the body during a hangover, why some people suffer more than others, and whether common remedies make any real difference.

How the body ... more

***This programme contains conversations about disordered eating which some listeners may find upsetting*** Social media is awash with nutritional misinformation with foods often cast as superheroes or villains. So how can we separate fact from ficti... 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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Recent Guests

Amanda B
A mother discussing her daughter's food allergies and the challenges they face.
Episode: Family ties
Vivian B
A teenager with severe food allergies discussing her experiences and advice.
Episode: Family ties
Pasha Kurashi
Care partner for his wife with Alzheimer's, discussing their shared kitchen experiences.
Episode: Family ties
Rubina Kurashi
Expert cook and caretaker navigating Alzheimer's diagnosis while sharing her kitchen.
Episode: Family ties
Jessica Rae Williamson
A young woman from Manchester sharing her experience with foster care and food insecurity.
Episode: Family ties
Melissa Guida-Richards
An adoption educator and author exploring connections to cultural roots through food.
Episode: Family ties
Anne YK. Choi
Author of K's Lucky Coin Variety, sharing insights about the family dynamics from running a convenience store.
Episode: Family ties
Jonathon Shears
Professor of English Literature at Keele University in the UK and author of 'The Hangover, a Literary and Cultural History.'
Keele University
Episode: What is the ultimate hangover cure?
Andrew Scholey
Professor of Human Psychopharmacology at Northumbria University in the UK and member of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group.
Northumbria University
Episode: What is the ultimate hangover cure?

Hosts

Ruth Alexander
Host who examines food's business, science, and cultural significance, often reflecting on various food topics with thought-provoking insights.
Rumella Dasgupta
Involved in discussions surrounding food culture, highlighting various aspects of the culinary world.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Excellent guests who provide a very insightful look into the world of restaurant service. Listening teaches one what they ought to expect from their servers and how they should comport themselves when eating out.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    ithabise
    2 months ago
  • 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 Kingdom4 months 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
    Spain6 months ago
  • Pay an actual artist

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Leeroy1289
    United Statesa year 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

Listeners Say

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

Some critics express dissatisfaction with certain topics, indicating a wish for a focused approach on food itself rather than peripheral matters.
Many highlight the knowledgeable and personable hosting style, which enhances the overall experience.
Listeners appreciate the rich variety of topics covered, often finding the discussions both engaging and informative.
The podcast is generally praised for its research and depth, showcasing real-life implications of food in society.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#41
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#245
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#8
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#10
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#34
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#91
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

To tip or not to tip?
Q: What proportion of your pay do they represent?
I would probably say at least two thirds, maybe three fourths.
To tip or not to tip?
Q: So, how do you manage this in your restaurants?
We have a way of pooling in a percentage of the sales, and we distribute that among the entire team in terms of points.
The chefs
Q: What advice would you have for the person listening who's wondering if they've got what it takes?
All chefs emphasize the importance of passion and hands-on experience in determining if someone is suited for a culinary career.
The chefs
Q: Is being a chef something you've always had in you?
All three chefs share early cooking experiences and how their childhoods shaped their passion for the culinary arts.
The coffee habit: Why do we love it so much?
Q: Are there any negative effects of coffee?
Some individuals may experience sensitivity to caffeine and withdrawal symptoms, but it is not classified as an addictive substance in the US.

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?

Exploring the intricate tapestry of food, this podcast traverses its multifaceted significance in business, science, and culture, offering listeners an insightful look into what shapes the food we consume daily. Each episode features a blend of stories and expert perspectives, giving depth to themes such as culinary practices around the world, the science behind ingredients, and the evolving dynamics of food industries. Episodes range from discussions on critical topics like tipping culture and portion sizes to innovative trends such as drone deliveries and culinary arts. With a focus on personal narratives and expert analysis, this show stands out in its ability to weave together cultural insights with practical knowledge, making it an ess... more

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. Good Food
3. CrowdScience
4. Health Check
5. Sliced Bread

How many episodes of The Food Chain are there?

The Food Chain launched 11 years ago and published 524 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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. Amanda B
2. Vivian B
3. Pasha Kurashi
4. Rubina Kurashi
5. Jessica Rae Williamson
6. Melissa Guida-Richards
7. Anne YK. Choi
8. Jonathon Shears

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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