Study highlights five key gaps in dietary guidelines as COP30 approaches

Governments worldwide need to overhaul national dietary guidelines to better align with both public health and environmental goals, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.

The paper, Towards more balanced dietary guidelines: connecting climate, culture, and nutrition, sponsored by ProVeg International, evaluated 100 national food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) and found they continue to favor animal-sourced foods, often failing to provide clear, evidence-based guidance on plant-rich diets.

Lead author Anna-Lena Klapp, Head of Research at ProVeg, said the findings show a disconnect between scientific evidence and official dietary advice. “Most guidelines recommend mainly animal-sourced foods in the protein group and present milk and dairy as a standalone food group without providing any information about alternative, plant-based food choices,” she said.

Klapp acknowledged that animal-sourced foods can be an important source of nutrients but warned that their overconsumption contributes to major global challenges. “Intensive animal agriculture also contributes to the major global challenges that humanity is currently facing, including climate change and biodiversity loss, animal welfare, and public health,” she added.

The study comes ahead of COP30 in Brazil this November, where food system emissions are expected to be high on the agenda. “Dietary guidelines are one of the tools that can effectively help achieve this,” Klapp said, urging governments to treat them as instruments for both individual and planetary health.

The evaluation uncovered several shortcomings in current guidelines. Almost one in five do not even mention plant-based sources of protein, while nearly a third fail to reference plant-based sources of iron. Just under 40% omit any mention of plant-based sources of calcium. Perhaps most strikingly, 60% of guidelines contain no position on vegetarian or vegan diets, despite an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide following some form of vegetarian diet.

From this analysis, the authors identified five crucial gaps that they say must be addressed. Food groups need to be classified more inclusively to accommodate plant-based protein sources, while clearer recommendations are required on limiting animal-sourced foods for health and environmental reasons. Guidance should also be provided on obtaining essential nutrients from plant-based sources, and alternatives to animal-based foods need to be explicitly included in dietary advice. Finally, comprehensive recommendations are needed on how to follow well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets.

“Addressing these gaps is crucial to ensuring that FBDGs remain relevant to a broad spectrum of dietary preferences, including those motivated by ecological, ethical, religious, and cultural factors,” Klapp said.

The study underscores the dual health and environmental burdens of high meat consumption. The livestock sector accounts for roughly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with animal-sourced foods responsible for nearly 60% of food-related emissions. Animal agriculture also drives land-use change, nitrogen pollution, and biodiversity loss.

At the same time, excessive meat intake – especially red and processed meat – is linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The study emphasizes that national guidelines should reflect this evidence by recommending reduced consumption of animal products while highlighting plant-based sources of protein, iron, calcium, and other nutrients.

The researchers argue that updating dietary guidelines is not only a public health necessity but also an essential climate strategy. By embedding sustainability into dietary advice, governments can empower citizens to make food choices that benefit both people and the planet.

ProVeg International, which sponsored the research, has long advocated for policies that encourage a shift toward more plant-based diets. The organization said the findings provide a framework for policymakers to modernize FBDGs in line with current scientific consensus on nutrition and sustainability.

With food system emissions set to be a central topic at COP30, the study adds weight to calls for governments to integrate diet into climate strategies. It also underscores the growing recognition that national dietary guidelines are more than just nutritional tools – they are policy levers that influence agriculture, trade, and food industry priorities.

For Klapp and her co-authors, the priority is ensuring that guidelines remain practical, inclusive, and culturally adaptable, while also addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and public health. “Clear, evidence-based guidance on plant-rich diets will be instrumental in empowering individuals to make choices that benefit both human and planetary health,” the study concludes.