By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
Globally, the way we eat today has been linked to about a third of greenhouse gas emissions and more than a quarter of deaths mainly due to diet-related chronic diseases. Changes in eating patterns to include fewer animal products and more plants have been suggested as a way to reduce the environmental effects of our diets and to improve people’s health. Some have raised concerns about the cost of these changes and that these changes are not affordable for everyone.
A group of researchers from the United Kingdom and the United States teamed up to estimate the cost, based on current food prices, of different diets (vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and semi-vegetarian) in 150 countries using foods typical of each country. They also assessed the cost of diet-related illnesses and the cost of diet-related effects on climate change.
When only food costs were assessed, globally, vegan and vegetarian diets planned to be high in whole grains cost less than any other diet and cost less than the baseline (current) diet. Vegan diets planned to be high in fruits and vegetables had a similar cost to the current diet. In high- and middle-income countries vegan and vegetarian diets high in vegetables and fruits or high in whole grains cost less than the current diet. In low-income countries, all of the more sustainable diets cost more than the baseline diet.
Reducing food waste and having more favorable socioeconomic development over the next 30 years resulted in a projected lower cost of vegetarian and vegan diets compared to current diets even in low-income countries. A concern is that low-income countries will adopt more western diets, high in animal products as they move away from the limited number of staple foods that are currently eaten. Choosing to adopt vegan or near-vegan diets could result in cost savings for individuals. and for society in terms of lower environmental and health effects.
When the food-related costs of climate change and health-related costs of diets were factored in, the average cost of current diets increased by 12% for environmental costs and by 4% of health-related costs. The increase in costs due to environmental and health-related factors were lowest for vegan diets.
Overall, vegan and vegetarian diets that emphasized whole grains and legumes were the most affordable for all, especially when environmental and health costs were considered.
Yes, we can have healthy, sustainable, and affordable diets globally, if more of us choose vegan or near-vegan diets.
Reference
Springmann M, Spajic L, Clark MA, et al. The healthiness and sustainability of national and global food based dietary guidelines: modelling study. BMJ. 2020;370:m2322. doi:10.1136/bmj.m2322