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An overview of insights on the (un)sustainability of the international food system.

Food & Sustainability

How sustainable is the Dutch food consumption?

The consumption of meat, fish and dairy products creates a high footprint, and because the diet of most Dutch people is not in accordance with  the dietary guidelines, there are health risks. This is related to important trends in consumer behaviour.

The Netherlands

According to Oxfam, the Netherlands ranks top in the world for countries with the most abundant, nutritious, healthy and affordable availability of food. Nevertheless, many Dutch have unhealthy diets and high carbon footprints.

Oxfam (2014), p. 2.

PBL (2016c), p. 40.

Meat, fish and dairy

Meat, fish and dairy products make up more than half of the GHG emissions of our diet, even though they only account for 15% of the daily weight of food consumed. The same goes for land use, where meat products (and fish) alone already account for 40% of the total. Average daily consumption of red (and processed) meat is well above the recommended amount in dietary guidelines. Many Dutch people also do not consume their recommended weekly portion of fatty fish.

Gezondheidsraad (2011), p. 43.

Marinussen, M., Kramer, G., Pluimers, J., Blonk, H. (2012), p. 7, 14-15, 22.

Gezondheidsraad (2015).

Van Rossum, C.T.M., Fransen, H.P., Verkaik-Kloosterman, J., Buurma-Rethans, E.J.M. & Ocké, M.C. (2011), p. 82.

Potatoes, vegetables and fruit

Potatoes, vegetables and fruit only have a 4% share in total land use and 20% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The difference between plant and animal products is high. Beef causes 70 times more GHG emissions than the same weight in carrots. Although the distance travelled by food (the ‘food miles’) are not necessarily associated with higher environmental impacts, that’s certainly the case with certain products, such as the transportation of tropical fruit by air and white asparagus from Peru. Vegetables sold outside the growing season can thus have a higher environmental impact because they are for instance flown in or grown in a glasshouse. At the same time only 3-14% of the population consumes the daily recommended 200 grams of vegetables, and a quarter consumes the recommended two servings of fruit.

Gezondheidsraad (2011), p. 43.

Marinussen, M., Kramer, G., Pluimers, J., Blonk, H. (2012), p. 15, 22.

Carlsson-Kanyama, A., & González, A. D. (2009), p. 1707.

Van Rossum, C.T.M., Fransen, H.P., Verkaik-Kloosterman, J., Buurma-Rethans, E.J.M. & Ocké, M.C. (2011), p. 81-82.

Drinks and extras

Drinks and extras such as snacks, biscuits and cakes are in between the other two food groups in terms of environmental impact. But especially extras have high contents of salt, saturated fat and calories, whilst not being needed for a healthy diet.

Gezondheidsraad (2011), p. 43.

Marinussen, M., Kramer, G., Pluimers, J., Blonk, H. (2012), p. 15, 22.

The wrong balance

All in all, we consume too much salt, saturated fat and calories, and too little fibre. Amongst the health consequences are cardiovascular disease, increased risk of cancer and diabetes. 5 to 10% of the Dutch burden of disease is linked to unhealthy diets. In addition, 5% of the burden of disease is caused by (morbid) obesity. Simultaneously, current dietary patterns lead to a much greater environmental impact than when we were to follow the Good Food Guidelines more closely.

Marinussen, M., Kramer, G., Pluimers, J., Blonk, H. (2012), p. 14.

Van Rossum, C.T.M., Fransen, H.P., Verkaik-Kloosterman, J., Buurma-Rethans, E.J.M. & Ocké, M.C. (2011), p. 81.

 

Emissions per category can be found in: Carlsson-Kanyama, A., & González, A. D. (2009), p. 1707.

Also see RIVM, Most recent publications on sustainable and healthy diets.