1. Improving health and carbon footprints of European diets using a benchmarking approach.
- Author
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Mertens, Elly, Kuijsten, Anneleen, Kanellopoulos, Argyris, Dofková, Marcela, Mistura, Lorenza, D'Addezio, Laura, Turrini, Aida, Dubuisson, Carine, Havard, Sabrina, Trolle, Ellen, Eckl, Marion, Biesbroek, Sander, Bloemhof, Jacqueline, Geleijnse, Johanna M, and van 't Veer, Pieter
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ECOLOGICAL impact , *DATA envelopment analysis , *DIET , *ENVIRONMENTAL quality , *FOOD consumption , *MEAT , *LEGUMES - Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to identify diets with improved nutrient quality and environmental impact within the boundaries of dietary practices. Design: We used Data Envelopment Analysis to benchmark diets for improved adherence to food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). We then optimised these diets for dietary preferences, nutrient quality and environmental impact. Diets were evaluated using the Nutrient Rich Diet score (NRD15.3), diet-related greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and a diet similarity index that quantified the proportion of food intake that remained similar as compared with the observed diet. Setting: National dietary surveys of four European countries (Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy and France). Subjects: Approximately 6500 adults, aged 18–64 years. Results: When dietary preferences were prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~6 % higher, GHGE was ~4 % lower and ~85 % of food intake remained similar. This diet had higher amounts of fruit, vegetables and whole grains than the observed diet. When nutrient quality was prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~16 % higher, GHGE was ~3 % lower and ~72 % of food intake remained similar. This diet had higher amounts of legumes and fish and lower amounts of sweetened and alcoholic beverages. Finally, when environmental impact was prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~9 % higher, GHGE was ~21 % lower and ~73 % of food intake remained similar. In this diet, red and processed meat partly shifted to either eggs, poultry, fish or dairy. Conclusions: Benchmark modelling can generate diets with improved adherence to FBDG within the boundaries of dietary practices, but fully maximising health and minimising GHGE cannot be achieved simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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