Summary
This review, published in the MDPI journal Foods in 2024, synthesises evidence on the long-term decline in the nutritional quality of plant and animal-derived foods. It attributes this decline to factors including soil degradation, intensive agricultural practices, selective breeding for yield over nutrient content, and post-harvest handling. The paper argues that this trend represents a significant and underappreciated public health challenge, particularly for future generations facing the compounding effects of dietary inadequacy.
Regional applicability
Relevant for UK nutrient decline narratives; aligns with UK Food Composition Table trends. Although the paper is global in scope and likely draws on data from multiple countries including the United States, the findings are broadly applicable to the UK, where comparable trends in soil health decline, high-input arable farming, and shifts in food processing are well documented. UK policymakers and nutritionists may find the evidence base relevant to ongoing debates around food quality standards, soil health strategy, and dietary guidelines.
Key measures
Historic vs modern composition tables; agronomic datasets; micronutrient concentrations (vitamins, minerals); macronutrient composition; nutrient density indices across food categories over time
Outcomes reported
Declines in minerals (Fe, Zn, Ca, Mg) and vitamins (C, B2, folate) linked to soil degradation and high-input agriculture. The study examines trends in the nutritional composition of commonly consumed foods, reporting declines in key micronutrients and minerals over recent decades, and assesses the likely drivers of these changes and consequences for human health across populations.
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