Publication of EAT 2.0 – Lancet Commission paper on healthy, sustainable, and just food systems

The original 2019 EAT-Lancet Commission paper introduced the concept of a "planetary health diet," intended to promote health for individuals and the environment by emphasizing plant-based foods and reducing animal products. Reactions included support from some in the food science sector and criticism regarding concerns about affordability, cultural relevance, and micronutrient sufficiency, particularly relating to reduced animal product intake.

A new paper, EAT-Lancet 2.0, was released this month. It maintains the recommendation for dietary adjustments and responds to earlier critiques by addressing regional and social diversity. The updated report features a revised Planetary Health Diet, incorporates goals related to food justice and social issues, demonstrates increased diversity within the Commission, and utilizes IPCC-like modelling to analyze possible transition scenarios. The aim is to advance progress toward sustainable food systems and address related issues, including climate change, public health, and global food needs.

Key takeaways for dairy

• Emphasis on reduction: EAT-Lancet 2.0 reiterates the message that a predominantly plant-based diet is recommended for human health and environmental reasons. This includes reduced consumption of meat and dairy, while the suggested daily dairy intake remains consistent with previous guidance.
• Not complete elimination: Dairy products are not entirely excluded. The report advocates a diet focused on plants with limits on animal-derived foods, providing a framework adaptable to various local and cultural contexts.
• Focus on sustainability: The report states that decreasing dairy intake is relevant for minimizing the environmental impacts of food production, particularly concerning climate change.

Continuous improvement on developing more sustainable practices, such as producing more nutrition with fewer emissions and creating a more environmentally efficient sector, continues to be imperative to the dairy industry.

A webinar addressing four dimensions of sustainability: Sustainable healthy diets and food systems are built on four interconnecting dimensions: environment, society and culture, nutrition, and affordability. While the environmental dimension is of importance, the nutritional quality and economic affordability of sustainable diets cannot be overlooked. Global Dairy Platform and the United States Dairy Export Council invite you to a webinar exploring dairy’s contribution to least-cost nutritionally adequate diets presented by Dr. Sylvia Chungchunlam, a Research Officer at the Riddet Institute, a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, hosted by Massey University. Dr. Chungchunlam will discuss the findings of her research conducted across the US, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya, and Tanzania.

The place of dairy in bridging nutrition and cost around the world is on 29 October 2025 from 12:00-13:00 Central US time. Register here