Food and drink

Braderie de Lille 2024: Mussel shells to be made into benches

Several hundred tonnes of mussels will be consumed over the festival, which dates back to the 12th century

Popular Mont d’Or cheese 'season' begins in France and runs until May 2025

The cheese is a staple of autumn and winter tables

What fruit, vegetables and fish are in season in France this September, 2024

Government website lists locally available produce and offers healthy recipes using them

news

Consumer group finds ‘best milk chocolate’ in French supermarkets

The best bar stood out for its pure ingredients and costs less than €3 per 100g

Know your cheeses and their seasons: which to eat in France in September

Cheeses with a stand-out flavour are recommended for the month

Possible botulism outbreak linked to French market food, five hospitalised

All had eaten the same artisan product sold at markets and fairs in central France and the jars were not correctly sterilised

France’s annual supermarket wine sales: dates and deals autumn 2024

Bottles of Bordeaux, Côtes-du-Rhône, Bourgogne and Champagne are available at low prices

Shop olive oil: French consumer group names cheapest healthiest option

It is now rare to find a litre of olive oil for less than €10

Which iconic French brands are the most beloved?

It is likely you have products from at least some of these marques in your home, even if you do not live in France

Danone drops Nutri-Score label on drinkable yoghurts after downgrade

The creator of the Nutri-Score has said the change is a “deplorable” step backwards

Mussels recalled across France over expiry date error

Batches of products with wrong dates were sold in E.Leclerc supermarkets

Vegan version of Nutella to launch in France

Plant-based alternative is more expensive than classic spread

French chef bakes innovation with 3D biscuit printer

Engineer-turned-pastry chef Marine Coré-Baillais's invention is elevating the art of pastry-making and even includes edible plates and cups

Help pick agave plant in Marseille so it can be made into liquor

It will be the third batch of ‘agave’ spirit made by company

Locals fear Champagne expansion would lead to price hike

Fortunes may be won and lost under the proposed changes to the prestigious grape-growing area

Comment: The French can't get enough of British grub

Columnist Samantha David says that British restaurants near her could not be more popular despite low rankings by French people for the UK in a global cuisine survey

Deli voted best in France operates out of a caravan

A tiny caravan has been turned into a popular épicerie near Baulou (Ariège)

Olive oil in France hit hard by soaring prices and fraud

The number of fraudulent schemes for the ‘liquid gold’ is at a record high

Comment: France's obsession with eating dead animals must end

Columnist Nick Inman says that meat production is a luxury the environment can ill afford

Is foraging for food viable in France?

Wild food can be found in abundance throughout France's countryside, but identifying it is less simple

America’s Dunkin' doughnuts chain to open outlets in France

The first outlet is set to be in Paris

Meat sold in French supermarkets recalled over health fears

Sausages, burger patties and minced meat are affected

See 7 French supermarket items on watchdog’s ‘scam products’ list

‘Basil’ soup with 0.2% basil, and ‘olive’ breadsticks that use palm oil are among products highlighted in the group’s new hit list

Which French supermarket has the best gluten-free range?

An increasing number of supermarkets stock food suited to dietary restrictions

Common food additive used in France linked to coeliac disease

One of the most common food additives, present in thousands of products, could promote the development of autoimmune conditions

If your table salt in France is looking a strange colour…lucky you!

The famous French brand is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a special golden idea

Beef products sold in French supermarkets recalled over E.Coli fears

Second recall in a week of products potentially infected with bacteria

Cantal cheese recalled across France over E.Coli concerns

Cheeses were sold in major supermarkets including Auchan, Carrefour and E.Leclerc

Chicken sold in French supermarkets recalled over listeria concerns

Products include thighs and wings from the well-known Loué brand. Refunds are available

Red wine sales in France plummet as white and rosé triumph

Young people’s drinking habits and a broader decline in alcohol consumption are thought to explain the reversal

Calls to change Champagne grape picker conditions after deaths in 2023

Five seasonal workers died in heatwave temperatures last year

French supermarket pineapples recalled over pesticide levels

Recall affects supermarkets across country including Carrefour

Are there dairy-free ice cream and other similar products in France?

Alternative foods to suit dietary restrictions are becoming more popular

Why this little French fish has its own quality label

The famed Collioure anchovy is the only fish in France with a prestigious PGI label, but why it is such a gourmet favourite?

Is horse meat still eaten in France? Can I buy it at a butchers?

Horse meat is a French delicacy but many people are against eating it

French strawberries 25% cheaper as 2024 sees bumper crop

‘Buy French’, urge producers, as the harvest peak is set to last all month

Which supermarket do French people prefer for food shopping?

Major brands such as Leclerc and Intermarché do not even make the top five

4,700 menus showcasing the evolution of French diplomacy up for auction

Collection of over 4,700 menus showcases the evolution of French diplomacy

'Natural wine' on rise in France: what is it and is it any good?

Vigneron and winemaker Jonathan Hesford explains this alternative to over-manipulated products

French bakers attempt to make world’s longest baguette

The world-record bid, which must beat 132.62 metres, brings new meaning to the phrase ‘breaking bread’

Five things they don’t tell you about... coffee in France

Adding milk can be more than just a spur of the moment choice in a French café

Pain au chocolat or chocolatine? The definitive map

Trying to settle a debate? Consult this official ‘chocolatine’ and ‘pain au chocolat’ map of France

Why have olive oil prices shot up in France? How long will it last?

A supermarket bottle of the ‘liquid gold’ can now cost up to €10 or more

Picnic in Paris? Chance to join huge meal on Champs-Elysees

The event could even be record-breaking. You can now apply for your chance to take part

More everyday French supermarket products accused of ‘shrinkflation’

Cordon-bleu, yoghurts, and ham are in the firing line, with prices up to 25% higher for lower quality items

How to describe wine like a French sommelier

Winemaker Jonathan Hesford provides a beginner’s guide to talking about flavours, smells and preferences in French

Habits of French people that annoy Britons - according to French media

Do you agree with these tips on ‘how not to irritate the British’?

Four French water brands accused of bacteria and chemical contaminants

Nestlé Waters, which has bottling plants in east and south-west France, has been hit again by questions over the quality of its mineral waters

‘Highly damaging’ fruit-eating fly at risk of spreading in France

Damage could range from 20-100% of harvests, experts have warned

From corks to screw caps: French wine bottles are changing

Screw caps are winning out on ‘drinkable’ wines and recyclability, but are still facing resistance among premium wines

Supermarket fruit yoghurts recalled across France over ‘spicy taste’

A non-toxic spore present in the yoghurts also damaged product lids

Supermarket ham recalled in France over listeria concerns

There are fears that the meat may cause food poisoning

Decathlon, Andros, Panzani: what is France's favourite brand?

French food brands dominate list although global giants are present

French cafes with staff with Down or autism exports idea to New York

Café Joyeux Lexington is in Manhattan, NYC, and works with local associations to recruit a ‘happy team’

52 new Michelin star restaurants in France - is there one near you?

See our list region by region

Camembert, brie: Museum dedicated to French cheese to open in Paris

Wine at the ready! The ‘cheese heritage’ will be the first of its kind

French veggie brand renames steaks ‘stêques’ to bypass new laws

It comes after a recent ban on vegetarian brands using words associated with traditional meat products

How McDonald’s, likely new Ligue 1 football sponsor, won over France

Adapting to French culture helped make burger chain biggest in country

MAP: Michelin lists 56 places in France where you eat well for €40

The famous restaurant guide has released a new list of the best value-for-money dining options in France

Crustless camembert? French cheese threatened by rind mould extinction

Scientists warn the fungus responsible for the famous white skin is at the point of disappearing

Supermarket oranges recalled in France over pesticide levels

The fruits were grown in Tunisia and mostly sold in northern France

Which areas of France have the most organic farming?

Livestock feed, cereals, and organic wine are the most common organic crops

Duck products recalled in France - but risk of botulism now ruled out

The recall is still needed due to labelling or packaging anomalies and possible manufacturing defects, says the agriculture ministry

Food additives linked to 15% higher cancer risk, say French scientists

The study is the ‘first of its kind’ but could be used to ‘change regulations on the use of additives in the food industry’, its authors say

Why these French cheeses are not recommended to young children

Two young children were hospitalised with severe food poisoning in December

Glass bottle return system returns to Paris supermarkets

Leclerc and Système U have opened new glass deposit machines this week

‘Cheapflation’ on French supermarket foods attacked by watchdog

Practice sees manufacturers reducing amount - or quality - of ingredients whilst increasing prices

Supermarket fresh fish recalled across France over listeria fears

It involves haddock and herring sold at in-store fresh fish counters

La Chandeleur: February 2 is France’s national crêpe day

The tradition of eating crêpes on Candlemas is centuries old, although recipes and flavours vary across the country

Perrier, Vittel: French brands ‘illegally filtered contaminated water’

The allegations are serious, including claims of contaminated sources, illegal filtration practices, and a lack of government reporting

Is it now safe to eat French oysters?

Producers have lost an estimated €7m, one farmer said, since a ban on December 27

Traditional Roquefort and Camembert are under threat, warn scientists

Cheese-lovers told they must learn to appreciate more diversity of tastes, colours and textures, sometimes within the same product to protect the cheeses’ future

RECIPE: How to make a ‘perfect’ French galette des rois

To celebrate Epiphany, people across France enjoy a traditional, sweet treat: the galette des rois. We share a simple recipe to make your own

Shellfish ban after food poisoning cases in south-west France

Several cases of gastroenteritis have been traced to oysters from the Arcachon basin

France bans nitrates for pet food but only reduces them for people

How a pack of food for President Macron’s dog highlighted a curious discrepancy between pet and human food - and the latter’s links to colon cancer