The Environmental Impact of an Italian-Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Based on the EAT-Lancet Reference Diet (EAT-IT)

Abstract

The definition of a healthy and sustainable diet is nowadays considered pivotal, but data related to environmental outcomes are still debated. In this study, we compared the carbon (CF) and water footprints (WF) of an Italian-Mediterranean (EAT-IT) dietary pattern designed on the “Planetary diet”, with a pattern based on the Italian Dietary Guidelines (IDG). The influence of different food categories and food choices on environmental impact was assessed. To this aim, weekly dietary patterns were developed, considering food categories and related portions and frequencies of consumption. Results show that the EAT-IT dietary pattern, compared to the IDG, had a significantly lower CF (2.82 ± 1.07 and 3.74 ± 0.92 kg CO2/day, respectively) but not WF. Protein-rich foods were the main contributors to CF and WF in both dietary patterns. The increased substitution of frozen instead of fresh foods, imported instead of local fruits, greenhouse-grown instead of seasonal vegetables, and processed legume-based foods instead of unprocessed legumes caused an increasing worsening of the CF in both patterns, but with different magnitudes. Our analysis indicated that the EAT-IT dietary pattern can be considered sustainable for CF, but individual choices are likely to largely affect the final environmental outcomes.

The MED_EAT-IT approach: A modelling study to develop feasible, sustainable and nutritionally targeted dietary patterns based on the Planetary health diet

“…This study aimed at exploring strategies and related methodologies to enhance nutritional adequacy, acceptability and scalability of patterns based on the ELRHD, using the Italian context as model. Specifically, the MED_EAT-IT pattern here reported represents an optimized diet, developed through the modification of criticalities we previously assessed ( Tucci et al, 2021 , 2022 ). To optimize the pattern, some animal-based foods (e.g., dairy, seafood, and eggs) had to be increased, while other food groups (e.g., red meat, legumes, nuts, and added fats) were decreased.…”

“…Average daily WF reported for omnivorous Italian adults was 1271 L/1000 kcal, thus only slightly higher compared to the MED_EAT-IT dietary pattern. Concern regarding the actual sustainability of the ELHRD in terms of water consumption has been already raised, mainly in relation to nut intake ( Tucci et al, 2022 ; Vanham et al, 2020 ). More recently, a large study used data from the EPIC-NL Cohort to assess the characteristics of highly adherent subjects to the ELHRD vs low adherent subject, analyzing food intake data of 35.496 participants.…”

“…Food consumption data, updated in 2022). As regard the carbon footprint (CF), the EAT-IT dietary pattern had a lower impact if compared to a model based on Italian FBDGs and to the current consumption of the Italians ( Ferrari et al, 2020 ; Rosi et al, 2017 ; Tucci et al, 2022 ). Starting from these considerations, it seems desirable to further optimize the pattern, targeting i) a large segment of the population with lower energy needs and; ii) strategies to achieve increased nutritional adequacy and acceptability.…”