Food & Drink

Osnabrück – October 29, 2026 -- A majority of young people in Germany want influencers barred from advertising unhealthy food, according to a representative survey commissioned by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv). In the poll, 57 percent of 14- to 25-year-olds agreed that influencers should not promote unhealthy foods.

Four in ten have bought food because an influencer recommended it

The survey also found that 40 percent of respondents have bought at least one food product because an influencer endorsed it. At the same time, 87 percent said they can easily recognize advertising on social media.

Consumer advocates say labeling is not enough

For the vzbv, those two findings together show that mandatory ad labeling falls short. The organization argues that influencer marketing works precisely because products are woven into personal stories, daily routines and seemingly authentic recommendations.

Frankfurt – October 29, 2026 -- Buy a Président product between September 28 and October 29, 2026, upload the receipt, and you get a daily chance to win a €150 shopping voucher. Every participant also receives a €1 discount coupon for their next purchase.

A French bistro appeared inside Frankfurt's main station for one day

The prize draw accompanies "Le Moment Président," a campaign from the French brand Président. To launch it, the company set up a pop-up bistro in Frankfurt Central Station, where commuters and travelers could stop, taste French cheese and butter specialties, and try new combinations at set bistro tables.

Audrey Haas, Group Brand Manager at Lactalis Deutschland, explained that the brand sees enjoyment as taking deliberate time and giving the moment meaning. The company calls this "enjoyment with character."

Munich – October 29, 2026 -- Paulaner Cola Zero goes on sale across Germany in January 2027, giving shoppers a sugar-free version of the brewer's cola in supermarkets, beverage retailers and restaurants.

Zero variants already take about 36 percent of German cola sales

The Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe is adding the new drink to its classic Paulaner Cola. That cola launched in spring 2026 and, within a few months, became the number 2 seller in the German cola can market.

The Munich-based family company points to demand for sugar-free and reduced-sugar drinks. Zero variants make up roughly 36 percent of the German cola market, and the segment is posting double-digit growth. About one third of German households now buy sugar-free cola.

Munich – October 29, 2026 -- From October 28, McDonald's Germany is bringing back the 1955® Burger, the McFarmer and a set of five collectible song radios under the campaign "Endlich wieder bei Mecces."

Five radios play hits from the 2000s and 2010s

The small radios were once an occasional Happy Meal® toy, and each played a single song. The new set features hits by Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry, Cro and Justin Bieber.

They are available from October 28 to November 24, 2026, in participating restaurants while supplies last. Customers can add one for an extra charge to a McMenü® (excluding McMenü® Small and McSmart Menü), a McCafé® Duo Grande or a Frühstücks-Duo Grande.

The 1955® Burger returns with smoky sauce

The 1955® Burger comes back on October 28 with 100% beef from Germany and its smoky 1955® Sauce.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – October 29, 2026 -- Blade and Bow is releasing a 30-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon at full barrel strength, 164.2 proof (82.1% ABV). Only 1,200 bottles exist, each priced at a suggested $2,500 per 750ml, with sales starting in November 2026.

The same whiskey now comes in two strengths

Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength is the second release in the brand's 30-Year-Old collection. It is the same blend as the 30-Year-Old Limited Release, which debuted in 2025 and was bottled in 2023 at 109 proof. The Cask Strength version skips dilution and is bottled at the strength it had when it left the barrel.

Nicole Austin, Diageo's Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development, calls them "the exact same blend, presented in two distinct ways." Drinkers can sip the Cask Strength neat or add room-temperature water a drop at a time to find their preferred balance.

Hamburg – October 29, 2026 -- Domino's Germany is adding Detroit Style Pizza to its menu on October 29, 2026, with pickup prices starting at €4.99 and delivery from €5.99.

A rectangular pizza with a crispy cheese edge

The US-born style is square instead of round and thick instead of thin. Its signature is a crunchy cheese rim around a soft, fluffy dough. The pizza is 25 cm long.

At launch, four varieties are available: Margherita, Salami, New York Style Salami and Chicken Broccoli. Domino's pitches the format for sharing and trying several flavors, as customers look for more flexibility when ordering.

Minecraft boxes come with random in-game items

To mark the launch, Domino's is bringing its global Minecraft Dungeons II partnership to Germany. For a limited time, the pizza comes in special Minecraft promo boxes in five designs.

Mainz – October 29, 2026 -- Two new episodes of ZDF's "Terra X: Chemie des Kochens" (Chemistry of Cooking) air on Sunday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Both are already available in the ZDF streaming portal.

Two new films follow the hit episodes "Feuer" and "Wasser"

The episodes are titled "Erde – wo Geschmack entsteht" (Earth – Where Flavor Begins) and "Luft – die unsichtbare Zutat" (Air – The Invisible Ingredient). Dr. Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim investigates the often overlooked forces that shape the aroma, texture and taste of food.

Truffles, sourdough and cream puffs anchor the questions

Why do truffles smell so intense? Why does sourdough bread rise? How does a cream puff get its characteristic hollow? Nguyen-Kim shows that the decisive processes often happen out of sight, deep in the soil or in the air.

NEW YORK – October 29, 2026 -- On November 6, a free pop-up on the Lower East Side will let guests build their own savory martini at a self-serve machine, and pair it with Dave's Hot Chicken. Cîroc is behind the Martini Machini, which it describes as a first-of-its-kind interactive martini-mixing machine.

The Martini Machini lets drinkers dial in brine, garnish and flair

Guests customize their martini by choosing their preferred ratio of brine, garnish and flair. The machine is built around Cîroc's new signature serve, the Messy Martini, a trademarked, layered twist on the classic dirty martini.

The Messy Martini combines Cîroc Vodka with pickle and banana pepper brine.

Bad Zwischenahn – October 29, 2026 -- Food brand Rügenwalder Mühle has named Saarland the "Meister des Feierabends" (Master of After-Work Time) after a nationwide survey found that 40 percent of Germans often can't fully switch off in the evening.

Germans value their evenings but struggle to unwind

The "Feierabend Monitor" is a representative online survey of 2,257 people, run by september Strategie & Forschung in May and June 2026 for Rügenwalder Mühle. For 74 percent of respondents, the end of the workday is an important retreat. Another 63 percent link it to time with people who matter to them, and 85 percent say dinner is a fixed part of it.

What gets in the way: private worries (50 percent), inner restlessness (45 percent) and unfinished to-dos (42 percent).

Saarland residents rely on small rituals more than anyone else

Respondents from Saarland report fixed wind-down habits more often than the national average:

Madison, Wisconsin – October 28, 2026 -- Delta Beer Lab, the Madison-area brewery at 167 E. Badger Road, will end regular operations on Sunday, Oct. 25, after nearly eight years in business.

Final week brings drag queen bingo, trivia and a makers market

The brewery will host several events in its last week of operations, including drag queen bingo, a trivia night and a makers market. Its final beer, Supernova West-Coast IPA, will serve as a tribute to the brewery's journey.

Owner blames post-pandemic costs for the closure

Owner Tim "Pio" Piotrowski said rising ingredient, supply and freight costs hit the business once the pandemic's initial effects began to subside. He also cited persistent inflation that has reduced consumer spending nationally and locally, while operating costs, including labor, kept climbing. "We have ultimately run out of resources," he said.