Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
|
 Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject: The Official Diet to Save the Planet |
 |
|
| Quote: |
The first official recommendations for a diet that is both healthy and good for the environment are published today, and they are likely to be seen as an assault on the UK's current food system.
To fight climate change and tackle the growing crisis of diet-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, British consumers must cut down on meat and dairy produce, reduce their intake of processed foods and curb waste.
These are the three priorities identified in a report by the government's independent advisory body on sustainability, the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), which calls for radical changes in patterns of consumption.
The report � which will dismay many in the livestock and processed food industries � will feed into all government departments and procurement agencies. Well-placed sources say it has created tension between Whitehall departments and advisers over its potential impact.
The study acknowledges that cutting processed food and reducing consumption of intensively-produced meat and dairy foods could lead to a shrinking of the UK food and drink industry. |
Recommended diet for a warming planet
| Quote: |
1 Cut consumption of meat and dairy products
Health benefits: Reduces incidence of cardiovascular disease, of some forms of cancer, and of animal-borne infections. Environmental benefits: Large reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, slowing of deforestation, freeing of farm land for other use, freeing of water resources, slowing loss of biodiversity, lower food prices and cheaper diets, higher employment. Negative impacts: Decline in UK and global livestock industry, potential increase in deficiencies of iron, calcium and zinc.
2 Cut consumption of processed foods and drinks, especially fatty, sugary ones and stimulant drinks
Health benefits: Reduced obesity, reduced tooth decay, likely to particularly improve health of low income groups. Environmental benefits: Cut in GHG emissions from energy-intense production of highly processed foods and bottled water. Reduced land use. Negative impacts: Cut in size of UK food manufacturing industry.
3 Reduce waste
Consume no more calories than needed, accept different standards of food quality and that some foods may not always be available in UK. Health benefits: Cut in obesity problems, cheaper diet would benefit poor particularly; less air pollution from food freight, less food poisoning. Environmental benefits: Reduced GHG emissions, reduced waste in agriculture, reduced imported food and associated emissions. Negative impacts: Cut in size of food and drink and supply industry, could increase consumption of processed fruit and vegetables of lower nutritonal quality, reduction in trade with developing countries.
Other recommended changes:
� Eat more fruit and vegetables
� Eat only fish from sustainable stocks
� Eat more foods produced with respect for wildlife and environment
� Shop on foot or on internet and cook and store food in energy-saving ways
� Drink tap water, not bottled water
Source: SDC advice to government on priority elements of sustainable diets, December 2009 |
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
