Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 1 — Meta-analysis / systematic reviewPeer-reviewed

Mapping the evidence of novel plant-based foods: a systematic review of nutritional, health, and environmental impacts in high-income countries.

Nájera Espinosa S, Hadida G, Jelmar Sietsma A, Alae-Carew C, Turner G, Green R, Pastorino S, Picetti R, Scheelbeek P.

Nutr Rev · 2025

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Summary

This systematic review maps the evidence base for novel plant-based foods—including meat and dairy analogues, plant-based proteins, and other emerging products—across nutritional, health, and environmental dimensions in high-income countries. The authors synthesised peer-reviewed literature to characterise what is known about these products' composition, potential health effects, and comparative environmental impacts. The review likely identifies evidence gaps and methodological limitations in the current literature, providing a foundation for future research and policy consideration.

UK applicability

Findings are directly applicable to UK food policy and public health guidance, given the UK's classification as a high-income country and the growing market for novel plant-based foods. The review will inform UK dietary guidance development and environmental food labelling initiatives.

Key measures

Nutritional content (macro- and micronutrients), health outcomes (clinical and epidemiological), environmental impacts (greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, biodiversity)

Outcomes reported

The study systematically reviewed evidence on the nutritional composition, health impacts, and environmental footprints of novel plant-based foods in high-income country populations. It synthesised findings across multiple outcome domains to characterise the evidence base for these emerging food products.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Novel and alternative protein sources: nutritional and environmental assessment
Study type
Systematic Review
Study design
Systematic review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
High-income countries
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1093/nutrit/nuae031
Catalogue ID
NRmo3d4gae-0bk

Topic tags

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