Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

The role of alternative proteins and future foods in sustainable and contextually-adapted flexitarian diets

Ashley Green, Christoph O. Blattmann, Canxi Chen, Alexander Mathys

Trends in Food Science & Technology · 2022

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Summary

This 2022 review examines the potential of alternative proteins and emerging food technologies to support sustainable, flexitarian dietary transitions tailored to local contexts. The authors appear to synthesise evidence on how shifts away from conventional animal proteins towards plant-based and novel sources can reduce environmental burden whilst maintaining nutritional adequacy and cultural acceptance. The framing suggests that one-size-fits-all dietary recommendations are less effective than regionally contextualised flexitarian approaches.

UK applicability

Findings are relevant to UK dietary guidance and food policy, where flexitarian eating is increasingly promoted as a middle-ground between vegetarianism and conventional omnivory. The emphasis on contextual adaptation may support tailored communication in different UK regions and communities rather than universal messaging.

Key measures

Environmental impact metrics (as suggested by sustainability focus); nutritional composition of alternative proteins; contextual feasibility and acceptability of flexitarian diets across regions

Outcomes reported

The paper examines the role of alternative protein sources and future foods in enabling contextually-adapted flexitarian dietary patterns that balance sustainability with nutritional adequacy. It likely reviews evidence on how shifts towards plant-based and novel proteins can reduce environmental impact whilst meeting diverse regional and cultural dietary needs.

Theme
General food systems / other
Subject
Food security & global nutrition
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1016/j.tifs.2022.03.026
Catalogue ID
SNmov5kr07-hrhh4a

Topic tags

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