New EAT-Lancet Report Doubles Down on Plant-Based Diets for Global Health

A new study has updated the recommendations of the 2019 EAT-Lancet report on healthy and sustainable eating. The findings build on the earlier 'planetary health diet'—a set of guidelines that sparked debate among food producers and scientists. This time, the focus remains on cutting back meat, sugars, and processed foods while promoting plant-based meals.

The original 2019 report faced pushback from agri-food industry groups but won support from researchers. It called for diets rich in plants and low in animal products, added sugars, and unhealthy fats. The latest update reinforces these principles, urging people to eat meat in very small amounts and to limit saturated fats, salt, and refined sugars.

Since 2019, several countries have acted on the report's advice. Germany and Switzerland adjusted their national dietary guidelines to align with the planetary health diet. The World Health Organization also adopted global school food standards for 2026, with 104 nations signing on. Of these, 75% now enforce rules for healthier meals, and half have restricted ads for unhealthy foods aimed at children.

Hospitals and schools in some regions have introduced more plant-based meal options. In Germany, health experts are pushing for additional measures, such as sugar taxes, lower VAT on fruits and vegetables, and stricter controls on junk food marketing to children.

The updated guidelines keep meat, sugars, and processed foods to a minimum while stressing the benefits of plant-based eating. Governments and health organisations have already begun adopting these recommendations, with changes appearing in schools, hospitals, and national policies. The report's influence continues to grow as more countries adjust their food standards in response.