EAT-Lancet Stands Firm: New Report Urges Plant-Based Diets for Health and Planet
The EAT-Lancet Commission has released an updated report on healthy diets that also benefit the environment. However, its 2019 report faced a coordinated campaign of misinformation, led by industry-connected figures aiming to discredit its findings.
The 2019 EAT-Lancet report suggested a shift towards more plant-based diets, with less meat and dairy, to improve both human health and the planet. This recommendation faced a torrent of misinformation, with industry-friendly scientists, doctors, and influencers promoting the health and environmental benefits of meat using similar wording and hashtags.
The new report, released in 2023, reinforces these findings. It highlights that food systems contribute about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and offers solutions like reducing food loss and waste, choosing local products, and shifting to sustainable farming practices. These changes could cut emissions by over half.
The EAT-Lancet Commission's new report stands firm against misinformation, offering a clear path towards healthier, more sustainable diets. Despite past attempts to discredit its findings, the commission continues to promote a planetary health diet that is similar to many traditional diets, delicious, and aspirational.
