Summary
This global modelling study estimated the costs of nutritionally balanced healthy and sustainable dietary patterns across 150 countries, finding that such diets are substantially cheaper than current diets in high-income countries (22–34% lower cost) but significantly more expensive in low-income countries (18–29% higher cost). When full accounting of diet-related health-care and climate costs was incorporated alongside reductions in food waste and favourable socioeconomic development, healthy and sustainable diets became cost-competitive or cheaper even in low-income settings. The findings suggest that affordability barriers to dietary transition are not insurmountable and depend critically on food system efficiency and the economic value assigned to health and environmental externalities.
UK applicability
As a high-income country, the United Kingdom is likely positioned to realise significant cost savings from dietary transition to healthier and more sustainable patterns, consistent with the study's finding that such diets are cheaper in upper-middle-income to high-income nations. Policy efforts to reduce food waste and internalise health and climate costs in food pricing could further enhance affordability and competitiveness of sustainable dietary patterns in the UK context.
Key measures
Diet cost comparisons (percentage change relative to current diets); comparative risk assessment of dietary risks paired with cost-of-illness estimates; greenhouse gas emission footprints paired with social cost of carbon; food waste projections; socioeconomic development scenarios
Outcomes reported
The study estimated the costs of healthy and sustainable dietary patterns (flexitarian, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan) across 150 countries, accounting for food prices, waste, health-care costs, and climate change costs. It modelled affordability under current conditions and future socioeconomic scenarios to 2050.
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