There’s no going back. Global reference diet must stay on its plant-forward course, says The Lancet article

Calls to increase animal-based foods in the internationally respected “Planetary Health Diet” should be resisted

A global reference diet that is healthy for both people and the planet should continue to lead humanity towards a plant-centric diet and not, as some critics of the diet suggest, turn back the clock to include more animal-based foods.

In an article in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health, lead author and public health nutritionist Anna-Lena Klapp argues that concerns about shortfalls in the micronutrient content of the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet can be addressed in a variety of ways that do not require boosting its meat content. 

“The evidence clearly shows that people and the planet cannot afford to simply default towards animal-based solutions”, Klapp, who is also Head of Research at ProVeg International, said. 

“In our review of the diet, we provide recommendations that address current shortfalls while maintaining its strong plant-forward approach,” she added. 

Symbolically represented by half a plate of fruit and vegetables, the other half of the Planetary Health Diet consists primarily of whole grains, plant protein like beans, lentils, pulses and nuts, modest amounts of dairy, and small quantities of meat and fish.  

The review of the diet published in The Lancet Planetary Health identifies several areas where it can be further improved, whilst keeping it on the current, plant-forward trajectory. These measures include:  

  • Recommendations on the bioavailability of plant-based foods and how to improve them, such as through soaking, fermenting, cooking, and processing as well as certain food combinations;
  • Including nutrient-rich, climate-resilient indigenous foods that are economically affordable and locally available; 
  • Creating greater awareness on gender-based differences in food preferences and dietary inclusiveness; 
  • Highlighting the benefits of fortification and supplementation; and
  • Clearer guidance on selecting healthier processed foods instead of broadly discouraging the category

“Our paper aims to make the EAT-Lancet diet easier to follow by giving more clear and practical advice,” says Roberta Alessandrini, co-author and project director at the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) International. “For example, we explain how to get the most nutrients from plant-based foods and how carefully selected processed foods can still be part of a healthy and sustainable diet.”

“While largely aligning with the EAT-Lancet diet’s core principles, we see that fortified meat and dairy alternatives can be valuable additions, particularly those with a good nutrient profile. These products are becoming nowadays a normal part of people’s diets, and government dietary guidelines are also starting to recommend them to the public”, notes Alessandrini.

The review of the shortfalls of the diet was a collaboration between researchers from ProVeg International, the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) International, the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa, the Umeå University in Sweden, and the University of Göttingen in Germany. 

More about the Planetary Health Diet

The EAT-Lancet Commission, consisting of 37 world-leading scientists from 16 different countries, published a set of global scientific targets in 2019 to guide an urgently needed transformation of the food system towards healthier and more sustainable diets. 

The proposed reference diet – known as the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet – emphasizes a shift towards a more plant-based diet. It is estimated that a widespread shift to the diet would reduce global dietary emissions by 17% and potentially prevent approximately 11 million deaths a year.  

Whilst the diet has attracted widespread support, it also drew criticism in 2023 with the claim that it was insufficient for women of reproductive age and that the percentage of animal-based foods should be increased. 

“A global transition to a healthy, plant-forward diet, as guided by the Planetary Health Diet, is indeed possible,” Klapp concludes in the article. “Sometimes that means recognizing traditional knowledge, and sometimes that means breaking with tradition and being open to new technologies.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:

For media inquiries and to interview Anna-Lena Klapp, email Peter Rixon at [email protected]

For inquiries about PAN International, email Veronica Logan at [email protected]

About The Lancet 

The Lancet is one of the world’s oldest and highest-impact academic journals. Lancet journals are peer-reviewed and have extensive global reach. The review was published in The Lancet Planetary Health, the world’s leading planetary health journal. 

The Lancet Planetary Health is an internationally trusted source of knowledge on the intersections of global environmental change, sustainable development, and human health and social justice. We are the leading planetary health journal with an Impact Factor of 24·1, ranking fifth among 358 environmental sciences journals and fourth among 403 public, environmental, and occupational health journals https://www.thelancet.com/lanplh/about 

About ProVeg International

Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet. ProVeg International is a food awareness organization with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040.

About the Physicians Association for Nutrition

Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) is a global medical non-profit organization that advances nutrition in healthcare and medical education to reduce millions of diet-related deaths by promoting evidence-based practices of healthy diets for personal and planetary health.

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