Summary
This joint FAO and WHO publication establishes a set of guiding principles defining sustainable healthy diets — those that promote all dimensions of individuals' health and wellbeing while having low environmental pressure and impact. The document draws on existing evidence to propose criteria spanning nutrition, environmental sustainability, cultural acceptability, economic accessibility, and food safety. It is intended as a normative reference for national governments and international bodies developing dietary guidelines and food system policies.
UK applicability
Although the principles are global in scope, they are directly applicable to UK food and nutrition policy, particularly in the context of the UK Government's efforts to align dietary guidance with net-zero and environmental targets; bodies such as the National Food Strategy and SACN have engaged with similar frameworks.
Key measures
Qualitative principles and criteria for dietary sustainability and healthfulness; no quantitative experimental measures reported
Outcomes reported
The report sets out a framework of guiding principles defining what constitutes a sustainable healthy diet, addressing nutritional adequacy, environmental impact, cultural acceptability, accessibility, and food safety. It provides recommendations intended to guide policymakers, food system actors, and health professionals in aligning dietary guidance with sustainability goals.
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