Your commercial news round-up: UK inflation and growth, new CO2 plant, iPhone age checks, porridge mice contamination

Dimitar Dimitrov is a content and engagement coordinator at LawCareers.Net

Reading time: four minutes

The UK faces fresh economic and consumer pressures this week as global conflict and domestic challenges intersect. Fresh forecasts warn that the UK is set for weaker growth and high inflation and the government is trying to prevent potential CO2 shortages by restarting operations at a Teesside plant. Meanwhile, Apple is introducing mandatory age‑verification for UK users amid mounting online‑safety demands and food brand Moma has issued a precautionary recall after possible mice contamination at its manufacturing site. Read on for LawCareers.Net’s picks of this week’s top commercial stories!

• The UK is set to face weaker economic growth and higher inflation this year due to the impact of the war in the Middle East, according to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). OECD now expects UK inflation to reach 4% in 2026 – the second‑highest rate among the G7 group of advanced economies – while economic growth is revised down to 0.7% from 1.2%. Only the US is forecast to have higher inflation than the UK and only Italy is expected to have weaker growth. The OECD said the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has led to downgraded forecasts for major economies and warned that a prolonged war could cause global energy shortages, while sustained high fertiliser prices could reduce crop yields and push up food prices next year. In addition, the global policy group now expects UK inflation to fall to 2.6% in 2027, higher than its earlier projection of 2.1%.
   
• The UK government will provide about £100 million to reopen a mothballed carbon dioxide (CO2) plant on Teesside amid concerns that the war in Iran could trigger CO2 shortages across multiple industries. Business secretary Peter Kyle approved the restart of the Ensus facility, which had been shut since September after a trade deal with US President Donald Trump reduced tariffs on US bioethanol imports. The Department for Business and Trade is expected to confirm the decision, with the plant set to operate for at least three months and potentially beyond. CO2, a byproduct of ethanol production, is essential for food and drink manufacturing, medical procedures and animal sedation for slaughter. Kyle commented on the move: “By restarting this plant we’ve acted swiftly to boost the resilience of our supply chains and protect critical UK sectors like food production, water and healthcare, as well as the jobs and communities that depend on these industries.”
   
• Millions of UK iPhone users will be required to confirm that they are 18 or older to access all available Apple services, following a new software update. Apple will ask adults to verify their age using a credit card or by scanning an official ID, which is believed to make the UK the first known European market to receive such a requirement. The move follows government pressure on tech firms to strengthen online child protection measures. Online regulator Ofcom welcomed the update as “a real win for children and families” and part of broader efforts to shield young people from harmful content. Some users have raised concerns about privacy, with one Reddit commenter saying they wanted the option to skip or cancel age checks. Apple hasn’t yet specified which services or features will be inaccessible without age confirmation but explained: “If you already have an account, Apple will check if you have a payment method on file or other eligible methods available to confirm that you’re 18 or older.” The change aligns with wider trends after many web services, including pornography sites, introduced age verification to comply with the Online Safety Act.
   
• Moma Foods has recalled several porridge pots and sachets in the UK due to possible mouse contamination at its manufacturing site. The recall covers seven porridge pot varieties, including the brands’ almond butter and salted caramel, and banana and peanut butter protein, as well as two sachets: almond butter and salted caramel, and apple, cinnamon and brown sugar. The Food Standards Agency said in a statement on Sunday 22 March: “These products may contain mouse contamination making them unsafe to eat.” Customers have been advised not to consume the affected items and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Point‑of‑sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores and online, and an alert has also been issued on Moma’s website. Moma commented: “Even though the chance of contamination of any of the above products being affected is low, we have taken this precautionary step to ensure the safety of our consumers.”

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