Summary
This global modelling study estimated the affordability of healthy and sustainable dietary patterns across 150 countries by pairing regionally comparable food prices with nutrient-balanced diet scenarios. The findings reveal a critical equity gap: whilst healthy and sustainable diets were 22–34% cheaper in upper-middle and high-income countries, they were 18–29% more expensive in lower-middle and low-income countries. The authors demonstrated that reductions in food waste, favourable socioeconomic development, and fuller cost accounting (including climate and health-care savings) could substantially improve affordability, suggesting policy interventions to address dietary transition costs in lower-income populations.
UK applicability
The findings are directly relevant to UK food policy and public health strategy, particularly regarding the gap between environmental and health recommendations and affordability in lower-income households. The study's analysis of how socioeconomic development and food waste reduction affect diet costs informs UK efforts to promote sustainable diets whilst addressing food insecurity and health inequalities.
Key measures
Percentage cost differences between healthy/sustainable diets and current diets; regional food prices from the International Comparison Program; diet-related health-care costs (comparative risk assessment paired with cost-of-illness estimates); climate change costs (greenhouse gas emission footprints paired with social cost of carbon); food waste and demand projections to 2050
Outcomes reported
The study estimated the costs of nutritionally balanced flexitarian, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets relative to current diets across 150 countries, considering food prices, waste, health-care costs, and climate change costs to 2050. It quantified affordability gaps between income groups and explored how socioeconomic change and fuller cost accounting affect diet accessibility.
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