The Food Programme

The Food Programme

Author: BBC Radio 4 Language: English Episodes: 100
The Food Programme from BBC Radio 4 digs into the stories behind what we eat. This podcast moves beyond recipes and restaurant reviews to explore the entire ecosystem of our meals. Each episode is a reported journey, examining the cultural, historical, economic, and personal forces that shape food production and consumption. You might hear about the surprising science of flavor, the future of farming in a changing climate, or the revival of a nearly forgotten culinary tradition. The series connects the dots between the field, the supply chain, and the dinner plate, offering a deeper understanding of the choices we make as consumers and citizens. Listen for insightful interviews with growers, chefs, scientists, and policymakers, all framed by thoughtful narration. It’s for anyone curious about the true cost and value of their food, providing context and conversation that changes how you think about your next bite. Tune in for a consistently engaging exploration of one of life’s fundamental pleasures and its complex global impact.
Episodes
Polski Sklep: A Recent History of the Polish Shop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:50
Since the early 2000s, one type of shop has quietly become a regular feature on British high streets: the Polski sklep – or Polish shop.Known for their smoked sausages, sour pickles, and wide selection of herbal teas, th…
Food and the Elements [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:44
Dan Saladino explores stories of food and 'the elements', the theme of this year's Oxford Food Symposium. Expect surprising insights on earth, fire, air, water and much more.For more than forty years the Symposium has ce…
Big Food, Big Power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:26
Sheila Dillon looks into claims that big food companies wield too much influence over government decisions and public health. The episode follows news from the youth-led campaign group BiteBack2030, which says its billbo…
The New Good Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:57
The adventures of Barbara and Tom Good in Surbiton brought self-sufficiency to the small screens of the nation. Fifty years on from the airing of that first episode of The Good Life, Leyla Kazim is about to embark on her…
The Periodic Table of Food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
Dan Saladino explores new science that's revealing the complexity hidden within our food.In New York City he meets the team mapping previously unknown edible compounds in fruits and vegetables, many of which are thought…
Potatoes with Poppy O'Toole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:17
In this episode, social media chef and queen of potatoes, Poppy O'Toole, explores the world of her favourite ingredient, the Potato. Last year, Poppy appeared on Mastermind, choosing the history of the potato as her spec…
English Olive Oil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:05
With the price of olive oil soaring in the shops after drought disrupted production in Spain, Leyla Kazim looks into the English farms planting olive groves in the hope of bottling their own oil. She meets a farmer in Es…
A Food Revolution in Eight (More) Ideas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:22
Dan Saladino meets pioneering thinkers to hear about future food ideas ranging from edible protein sourced from chicken feathers to crops inoculated with fungi capable of tolerating a hotter climate.Produced and presente…
Professor Michael Crawford: A Life through Food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:43
In this episode of 'A Life Through Food', Sheila Dillon meets one of the most provocative scientific minds of the last half-century: Professor Michael Crawford. Now in his 90s, Crawford’s pioneering research into the bra…
The BBC Food & Farming Awards 2025 Launch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:58
The BBC Food & Farming Awards are back for 2025! Jaega Wise visits River Cottage HQ to meet returning head judge Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. They talk about what Hugh is looking for in this year's awards, what makes the…