The Food Chain

BBC World Service•www.bbc.co.uk

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

Last refreshed: June 25th, 2026 at 7:10 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Why do we love smoky flavours so much?

The history of smoking foods stretches back many years, but when did what began purely for preservation become a highly sought-after flavour? In this episode of The Food Chain, Ruth Alexander explores the origins of smoked foods and finds out why their flavours are so appealing to so many people around the world. She visits a smokehouse run by Michael Price in the port city of Lancaster in north-west England, where he explains the techniques used to flavour a variety of fish, as well as some of ...

Jun 17, 2026•26 min

Can music change the way food tastes?

Music is part of the backdrop to millions of meals every day. But what if it is doing more than simply creating atmosphere? In this episode of The Food Chain, Rumella Dasgupta explores the growing evidence that sound can shape the way we experience food and drink. From scientists studying how the brain combines hearing and taste, to chefs designing dishes around playlists, we ask whether music has become an ingredient in its own right. Chef Gaggan Anand explains why music sits at the centre of h...

Jun 11, 2026•26 min

Can I save the family restaurant?

Running a restaurant is hard. Long hours, tight margins and constant stress. In this week's programme Rumella Dasgupta travels to Edinburgh, Scotland, to meet Lisa He and her mum Sophie. Lisa has just put her life and acting career on hold, to try and help her mum save the family's restaurant, the China Star. A video she made documenting her attempt has gone viral, with more than fifteen million views. But is a viral video going to be enough to turn a failing business into a success? Lisa's got ...

Jun 03, 2026•26 min

The business of food tours

Food tours are becoming one of the fastest-growing parts of the travel industry, with tourists increasingly choosing to explore cities and cultures through what they eat. In this episode, Ruth Alexander explores the global rise of guided food experiences and the people building businesses around them. In Manchester, food tour guide Julia Fairburn takes Ruth through some of the city’s best-known food spots, explaining how successful tours combine local history, storytelling and carefully paced ea...

May 27, 2026•26 min

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