Quick Take — Peter Brabeck-Lemathe leaves Nestlé: what does it mean?

I copy an article of mine from the 1990s:

“Peter Brabeck-Letmathe was CEO (managing director) of Nestlé at the time, today he is its Chairman (chairman of the board).

There were ‘sparks’ with Brabeck during one of his visits to Milan. We were in the fruit and vegetable department of the Superstore in Corsico…

Then, as none of us had any interest in quarrelling, everything returned to order.

And Nestlé, very realistically, will end up eliminating GMOs from its products in Italy’.

The fact that as honorary chairman, Brabeck- Lemathe was no longer listened to and questioned makes one realise how much Nestlé has lost its bearings. And in fact, for years, it has been going through a deep crisis, which seems to have no end ( it had its biggest problem with water and frozen pizzas. On water it got away with it).

Drafted 27 December, updated 31 December 2025

Quick Take — Italy: 35 % drink only mineral water

One of the reasons why the world record gets little media attention is that no one wants to lose the 80 million budgets that bottling companies invest in advertising to differentiate a product that, in 90% of cases, is indistinguishable from others and where the brand can only be recognised by the colour of the label. When it comes to mineral water, the media prefer to focus on uncontroversial aspects such as the efficient recycling system, leaving out the critical economic and environmental issues.

For its part, the industry has always been very adept at conveying the image of excellent mineral water: pure at origin, with often invented health virtues (lightness, diet, sport…), and safe because it is authorised by the Ministry of Health. Being the first consumer in the world of a product perceived as healthy is implicitly considered a ‘neutral’ or even ‘positive’ record. Here, mineral consumption is seen as a cultural choice, as an established habit rather than a public network failure.

Quick Take — Chiquita, from Sicily the first Italian production

Chiquita’s iconic bananas will be grown, for the first time, in Italy. With the bananas an Italian product, the brand starts production in the heart of Sicily together with the local agricultural cooperative Alba Bio

The banana is the last of the tropical products whose production has landed in southern Italy as a result of climate change.

“There is no shortage of unknowns. The banana is a demanding plant: it requires large amounts of water and stable environmental conditions. In an island that already faces water and climate challenges, maintaining environmental sustainability will be crucial’…

Bananas are already cultivated in Italy in Apulia.

Compiled on 30 September updated on 6 October 2025

Quick Take — Europe hit by strong heatwaves

France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey have been hit by strong heat waves with ‘extreme heat and drought’. After the current pause, the waves will resume from 12 July onwards, at least in Italy. Temperatures are very high in the Mediterranean Sea and river flows are at their lowest.

We recall the situation in Sicily, which is partly without water.

On the seas read: The rise in temperature of European seas since the late 1970s

Compiled on 6 July, updated on 7 July 2025