World Health Day came and went with little more than a burp and a fart yet experts say it is increasingly clear that a radical transformation of the global food system is sorely needed.
Food sustainability, both in production and consumption, is at the heart of a healthy public and planet. The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) found that unhealthy diets are responsible for 11 million deaths worldwide per year, even more than smoking tobacco. An improvement of diet could prevent one in five deaths worldwide.
Food sustainability, both in production and consumption, is at the heart of a healthy public and planet. The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) found that unhealthy diets are responsible for 11 million deaths worldwide per year, even more than smoking tobacco. An improvement of diet could prevent one in five deaths worldwide.
“In recent years we have witnessed a gradual departure from sustainable food models, such as the Mediterranean Diet, in favor of models rich in animal-based proteins, processed foods with high percentages of sugar, salt, fat or low in fiber,” said Barilla Foundation’s nutritionist and researcher Katarzyna Dembska. “These food solutions can expose us, in the long run, to very expensive diseases or health problems. Choosing sustainable diets, in addition to reducing the impact on the environment, can positively affect longevity.”
The EAT-Lancet Commission echoed similar sentiments in a report, stating: “Food is the single strongest lever to optimize human health and environmental sustainability on Earth. However, food is currently threatening both people and planet.”
According to the Barilla Foundation, more than 650 million people over the age of 18, equal to 13 percent of the world’s population, are obese. Obesity, caused by unhealthy diets, is among the risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory problems and diabetes.
But it is not just the way we consume food that threatens our health, but also its production. Food production is one of the largest contributors to climate change, accounting for a third of greenhouse gas emissions.
According to U.N. University, emissions from livestock account for almost 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Beef and dairy alone make up 65 percent of all livestock emissions. In fact, meat and dairy companies are on track to become the world’s biggest contributors to climate change, surpassing the fossil fuel industry.
Already, climate change has taken a toll on health including in 2003 when temperatures rose 20-30 percent above average in Europe, resulting in over 30,000 deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that climate change will cause 250,000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition and heat stress between 2030 and 2050.
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