"Sustainable Diets": Introducing the concept and it's reflection in the current nutritional guidelines worldwide
Abstract
Long-term prosperity and good-quality nutrition of the human society are dependent on a good-quality and stable environment. The currently increasing number of people inhabiting the Earth poses higher demands on the use of natural resources, which leads to a growing environmental impact.
Current dietary patterns in so-called developed countries are becoming centre stage due to their negative effects on population health and high impacts on the environment. Experts agree that to reverse these developments and to secure long- term environmental sustainability it will be necessary to achieve a change in the current 'Western-type' dietary patterns.
In this context, the term 'sustainable diet' has been defined that strives for the balance between adequate nutrition, environmental protection and the wider socio-economic aspects. This overview article introduces the concept of sustainable diet based on a review of foreign literature and summarises how the concept is reflected in dietary recommendations around the world.