Work

The protein transition into context – the impact of dietary shifts in different countries on nutritional adequacy of diets

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The term ‘protein transition’ is used to address a dietary shift from animal-source foods (ASF) to plant-source foods (PSF). This indirectly implies a focus on protein as the main nutrient of concern to reduce food-related pressures on the environment and tackle unhealthy diets. In a Western context, there is growing consensus that a protein transition is indeed favorable but studies that focus on diets in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are lacking. This study examined the nutritional implications of replacing currently consumed ASF with PSF to achieve diets that align with the protein transition, for low-, middle- and high-income countries. Using data from dietary surveys as a starting point, we replaced currently consumed ASF stepwise with currently consumed PSF to either meet current energy intake levels, or current total protein intake levels. The results show that current intake of many essential nutrients is already low in LMIC, especially calcium. Substituting ASF to achieve diets in line with the protein transition either increased the nutrient adequacy gaps for eight out of nine studied nutrients when maintaining current energy intake, or largely increased energy intake when maintaining current total protein intake. More importantly, nutrient adequacy of current and the alternative diets showed large variability among countries, and age and gender groups. We conclude that using the term ‘protein transition’ as a uniform solution to sustainable healthy diets can be misleading as the applicability depends on the current diet and protein is often not the main, and certainly not the only, nutrient of concern.

Source: Global Food Security

DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100895

Authors: R.P.M. Cardinaals, G. Bubnyte, T. Huppertz

Institutions: Wageningen University & Research, FrieslandCampina (Netherlands), University College Cork

Language: English

Topic: Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,240