Summary
This global modelling study assessed the affordability of nutritionally balanced healthy and sustainable dietary patterns across 150 countries using standardised food price data and projections to 2050. The analysis found substantial income-related disparities: such diets were 22–34% cheaper in high-income countries but 18–29% more expensive in low-income countries compared with current diets. When accounting for reductions in food waste, favourable socioeconomic development, and the broader costs of diet-related climate change and health care, the affordability gap narrowed considerably, with healthy sustainable diets potentially becoming 25–29% cheaper in low-income settings.
UK applicability
As a high-income country, the United Kingdom would likely benefit from the cost reductions identified for upper-middle to high-income nations, making healthy sustainable diets more affordable. The findings support UK policy efforts to promote healthier diets and may inform National Health Service cost-of-illness analyses and climate-aligned food policy, though country-specific food price and waste data would refine applicability.
Key measures
Diet cost as percentage change relative to current diets; food prices from International Comparison Program; diet-related health-care costs via comparative risk assessment; climate change costs via greenhouse gas emission footprints and social cost of carbon
Outcomes reported
The study estimated the cost of healthy and sustainable dietary patterns (flexitarian, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan) relative to current diets across 150 countries, accounting for food prices, waste, and full cost accounting including health-care and climate change costs.
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