Flavor trend expert Melanie Zanoza Bartelme of Mintel shares how social media, Gen Z curiosity, and a craving for comfort are redefining the tastes of 2026 and beyond. Food scientist Abbey Thiel breaks down the concept of biodiversity, drilling into why it matters in terms of sustainability, nutrition, and food security.
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GUESTS
Melanie Zanoza Bartelme is associate director of food and drink at Mintel, where she leads global analysis on food and beverage innovation and consumer trends. In this role, she provides strategic insights to help companies translate emerging consumer behaviors into successful product development. A graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in journalism, she’s passionate about exploring global cuisines and sharing her discoveries on her Instagram, @melanietastestheworld.
Abbey Thiel, PhD, is a food scientist and food science communicator who created her own YouTube series, Abbey the Food Scientist, to explain complex scientific topics in engaging ways. Her professional life includes working as a research project manager for Wageningen University, as a lecturer for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and as a consultant, in addition to freelance science writing. She has a PhD and BS degree in food science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Omnivore Podcast
Join the award-winning editors of Food Technology magazine every other Monday for Omnivore, the podcast that intersects the business of food and the science of food, through lively discussion and interviews with product innovators, leading researchers, policy makers, and thought leaders from across the world of food.
