Update to the global reference diet emphasises how we should eat more plant-rich foods
Food awareness organisation, ProVeg International, has today welcomed the latest update to the EAT-Lancet Commission’s Planetary Health Diet, which highlights the importance of plant-rich diets for healthy, sustainable, and just food systems.
Designed to feed a projected global population of 10 billion by 2050, the updated 2025 diet is rich in whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits and legumes. Significantly, only modest or small amounts of fish, dairy and meat are recommended.
Across all regions, the EAT-Lancet report finds a common shortfall. Diets consistently lack sufficient fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains. At the same time, and in many places, the report states that diets contain excess meat, dairy, animal fats, sugar, and excessively processed foods.
Despite this, a ProVeg-supported study, published last week in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, that evaluated food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) from 100 countries found that most countries are still primarily promoting the consumption of animal-sourced foods.
“Whilst we warmly welcome the latest update to the Planetary Health Diet, it is clear there is still much work to be done to ensure countries incorporate the recommendations of this diet into their national dietary guidelines together with an effective implementation strategy,” Jasmijn de Boo, Global CEO of ProVeg International, said.
“As well as having strong dietary guidelines, food environments can be shaped in many other ways that make healthy and sustainable choices much easier,” de Boo said.
“For example, the Protein Tracker in the Netherlands, which is guided by the Planetary Health Diet, sets targets for retailers to increase the amount of plant-based protein on their shelves. We also see, in the UK, the School Plates programme that has introduced more plant-based foods into schools.
“So the implementation of the Planetary Health Diet requires policymakers, business and society to work together,” she added.
More about the ProVeg study
Lead researcher of the ProVeg-backed study on national dietary guidelines, Anna-Lena Klapp, who is also Head of Research at ProVeg, said most national dietary guidelines currently recommend mainly animal-sourced foods in the protein group and present milk and dairy as a standalone food group without providing any information about alternative, plant-based food choice.
Key findings from the ProVeg study are as follows:
- 18% of FBDGs do not even mention plant-based sources of protein.
- 30% do not mention plant-based sources of iron.
- 39% do not discuss plant-based sources of calcium.
- 60% of FBDGs contain no position on vegetarian diets (including vegan diets) even though 1·5 billion people worldwide follow some form of vegetarian diet.
The paper identifies the following five “crucial gaps” that need to be addressed to steer guidelines in a more healthy and sustainable direction:
- More inclusive food-group classifications are needed that accommodate plant-based protein sources;
- Clearer recommendations are required for limiting the consumption of animal-sourced foods for health and environmental reasons;
- Guidance is needed on obtaining essential macro- and micronutrients from plant-based sources;
- Plant-based alternatives to animal-based foods need to be included within dietary recommendations; and
- FBDGs need to provide comprehensive advice on well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets.
“While animal-sourced foods can represent an important nutrient source, overconsumption, and intensive animal agriculture also contribute to the major global challenges that humanity is currently facing, including climate change and biodiversity loss, animal welfare, and public health,” Klapp said.
“As nations gather in Brazil in November for the COP30 climate summit, they will be discussing how emissions from the food system can be reduced. Dietary guidelines are one of the tools that can effectively help achieve this,” she adds.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For media inquiries, email Peter Rixon at [email protected].
For scientific data about the benefits of plant-based eating, see our Food System Data website.
About ProVeg International
ProVeg International is a food awareness organisation with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040. Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet.
