Consensus-building around the conceptualisation and implementation of sustainable healthy diets: a foundation for policymakers

Abstract

Background Healthy and sustainable diets need to be adopted to reduce the negative impact of food consumption on human and planetary health. Food systems account for a third of greenhouse gas emissions. “Dietary Patterns for Health and Sustainability” is a World Health Organization (WHO) project that aims to build consensus among international food, health, and sustainability experts and policymakers on how to conceptualise healthy and sustainable diets and on the actions and policies that could be implemented in the WHO European Region to promote these diets. Methods A qualitative study among European food, health, and sustainability experts and policymakers to elicit their views on multiple dimensions of food sustainability and health was carried out using a three-phase process, including semi-structured interviews, a Nominal Group Technique, and focus groups during a participatory WHO workshop held in Copenhagen. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the three data sources. Results The workshop resulted in a shared understanding of the interconnected components of sustainable healthy eating habits. As a result of this understanding, a variety of potential solutions were identified, including actions across different policy domains, tools, strategic guidelines, needs, and pathways for sustainable healthy diets. The pathways included the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, as well as the simultaneous execution of an aligned and coherent mix of policies at the local and national levels. Conclusions The prioritised actions should be aimed at helping government policymakers promote sustainable healthy diets and make decisions on improving dietary patterns for citizens’ health and wellbeing in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the European Region.

Avengers, assemble the literature! A multi‐study review of consumption, environmental values, and planetary health research

“…Cluster 6 involves the advocacy for planetary health diet . Alongside Cluster 8, this cluster is one of the most recent clusters, with an average publication year of 2022 for three articles: Bach‐Faig et al (2022) engage in consensus‐building around the conceptualization and implementation of sustainable healthy diets, whereas Dodevska et al (2022) set the record on the similarities and differences in the nutritional composition of nuts and seeds while Harris et al (2022) reveal the challenges, opportunities, and knowledge gaps in fruit and vegetable biodiversity for nutritionally diverse diets.…”

Exploring the Meanings of Food Sustainability: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis

“…Both sets of authors agreed on the relevance of the quality of food or diets for sustainability and care for the environment, rather than on the assessment of waste made by the study participants. Initiatives or good intentions that are very local in the communities cannot be effective or have long-term effects if they are not accompanied by consensus among the interdisciplinary experts on food, health, and sustainability, which must be supported by public policies on the conceptualization of a healthy and sustainable diet [34].…”

Nutritional Analysis of the Spanish Population: A New Approach Using Public Data on Consumption

“…In both Spain and other countries, this information also helps to determine the degree of sustainability of a country’s diet and the environmental impact of the food system that supports it [ 81 ]. Because policy makers may use this information to establish sanitary, commercial or environmental regulations, it should be as reliable as possible [ 82 ]. Food policy formulations must be guided by a periodic evaluation and re-evaluation of food systems.…”