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Artwork for The Food Programme

The Food Programme

BBC Radio 4
Nutrition
Climate Change
Obesity
Food Waste
Cooking
Social Media
Food Culture
Food Safety
Public Health
Coffee
Food
Ultra-Processed Foods
Food Security
Bradford
United Kingdom
Biodiversity
Mental Health
Japan
Rum
Christmas

Investigating every aspect of the food we eat

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes827Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsFood

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Food Programme

Latest Episodes

The BBC Food & Farming Awards come from Belfast this year. Jaega Wise heads to the Balmoral Show, the largest agri-food show in Northern Ireland, to find out what makes this such an amazing place for food and farming. Jaega will be meeting head judge... more

Sheila Dillon visits fruit and veg growers across the country to ask what should the government put in its landmark plan to grow more in the UK.

With war in the Middle East driving up fertiliser and energy prices and a growing health crisis at home... more

Hallyu - the Korean Wave - is taking over. With dramas and films like Squid Game and K-Pop Demon Hunters topping the Netflix charts, K-beauty products filling TikTok feeds and chemist shop shelves, and the global tour of the biggest K-Pop band in the... more

Dan Saladino reports from Parabere Forum, a gathering of food storytellers, featuring Olia Hercules on the Ukrainian cooks who inspired her, indigenous Australian chef Mindy Woods on saving First Nations' cuisine and Palestinian writer Fidaa Abuhamdi... 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

Tim Chambers
Tim Chambers, owner and founder of Kent-based WB Chambers, UK fruit grower
WB Chambers
Episode: The future of our fruit and veg
Angela Eagle
DEFRA farming minister
UK Government, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Episode: The future of our fruit and veg
Jess Frenberg
Senior Food and Climate Analyst at Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU)
ECIU
Episode: The future of our fruit and veg
Martin Emmett
Chair of NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board
National Farmers Union (NFU)
Episode: The future of our fruit and veg
Nina Pullman
Producer who discussed producer organizations and local distribution
NFU producer network / producer organizations
Episode: The future of our fruit and veg
Guy Singh-Watson
Founder of Riverford Organic Farmers
Riverford Organic Farmers
Episode: The future of our fruit and veg
Stella Swain
Interview subject recounting historical farming policy and Land Settlement Association
Historian/Policy observer
Episode: The future of our fruit and veg
Becky Lee Smith
Promoter of Korean culture, Hanguk Kappa
Independent promoter (Korean culture)
Episode: K-Food
Judy Joo
Korean-American chef, restaurateur, writer and TV personality
Soulbird/Jinju (restaurants)
Episode: K-Food

Hosts

Jaega Wise
Host of The Food Programme
Sheila Dillon
Host of The Food Programme

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Wonderful

    I love the food programme. The subjects are so varied and there is something for everyone, whether you are interested in the characters in the food world, the politics of it or how it all works.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fussy frederika
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Periodic Table of Food

    One of the most interesting and important podcast I’ve heard in a long while

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Arthur Shufflehouse
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Wow!

    Michael Crawford, just listened, fascinating!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ALittleChaotic
    United Statesa year ago
  • Bad Case of Pseudo-Science

    The Brain Gut Connection episode was a classic example of Myth-Making Journalism masquerading as science. I’m sure many listeners would be misled, as intended, by the jump from saying “there’s a link” between gut biodiversity and mental health to the assumption that it’s a causal link, and hence that increasing gut biodiversity will improve mental health. Classic journalistic misrepresentation in a desperate search for a story…

    Then we cut to the researcher who carried out a study to explore thi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ArgyEll
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • These so-called MPs provided nothing that is new, and give little hope for the future health of the nation! Nice try, but...

    Podcast Addict
    1
    mobfizz
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the podcast is seen as a reliable resource for learning about food systems and culture.
Guests and hosts are frequently described as knowledgeable and thought-provoking, with strong storytelling.
The show is valued for its balance of research and accessibility across global food issues.
Listeners praise breadth and depth of topics, with engaging experts and relatable stories.
Some episodes are noted for controversial or debatable framing, prompting listener critique.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#53
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#23
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#98
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#8
Australia/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Food Processing the ‘Missing Middle’?
Q: Should we maintain localised facilities and UK capacity for processing?
Yes, to strengthen resilience and national security of the food chain, ensuring that if imports falter, there is sufficient domestic capacity to meet demand.
Is Food Processing the ‘Missing Middle’?
Q: So what can the UK do in terms of bean processing?
Experts suggest supporting a mix of on-farm, mid-scale, and larger processing facilities to provide resilience and keep farms economically viable, while also building demand for UK-grown pulses to justify local processing.
Chefs, Creativity and the Cost of Living Crisis
Q: What specific skills have been useful for chefs in navigating this cost crisis?
Chefs need to be adaptable, having more than just culinary skills but also an understanding of finance and the economics behind food costs.
A Wild Mushroom Chase
Q: What is the general perspective on wild mushrooms in the UK compared to Sweden?
In the UK, people are generally mycophobic and less knowledgeable about mushrooms, unlike consumers in Sweden who understand and encourage wild mushroom foraging.
A Wild Mushroom Chase
Q: What checks are in place in Sweden to make sure the mushrooms are what you say they are?
There are systems in place where mushrooms are checked both upon receiving them from pickers and again before packing for customers.

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 Programme

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

A thoughtful series exploring the global and local food landscape, with a strong emphasis on culture, sustainability, and policy as they intersect with everyday eating. Episodes frequently center on how food traditions evolve under forces like media, travel, and politics, featuring chefs, farmers, researchers, and journalists who illuminate underreported stories—from hospital nutrition and Indigenous foodways to global trade and environmental stewardship. Noteworthy is a consistent focus on authenticity, community impact, and practical change, making it useful for listeners who want deeper context around what ends up on the plate and in policy discussions.

Potential listeners may be drawn to investigative food journalism, cultural cuisine, ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Food Programme?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Food Programme. 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 Programme and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Food Programme get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Food Programme?

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How many subscribers and views does The Food Programme have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Food Programme 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 Programme?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Food Programme:

1. The Food Chain
2. Sliced Bread
3. Inside Health
4. Good Food
5. What's Up Docs?

How many episodes of The Food Programme are there?

The Food Programme launched 17 years ago and published 827 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 Programme?

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 Programme?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Food Programme 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 Programme?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Food Programme. 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 Programme?

Recent guests on The Food Programme include:

1. Tim Chambers
2. Angela Eagle
3. Jess Frenberg
4. Martin Emmett
5. Nina Pullman
6. Guy Singh-Watson
7. Stella Swain
8. Becky Lee Smith

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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