Save the planet (and your health) by steering clear of sweets and
pastries

Date:
November 5, 2021
Source:
University of South Australia
Summary:
Need another reason to cut back on sugary foods and drinks, apart
from an expanding waistline? They're not helping the environment,
contributing to a higher cropland, water scarcity and ecological
footprint, according to a new review.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Keen to do your bit for the environment? Cut back on sweets, pastries,
fried foods and processed meat. According to a new study published this
month, reducing these foods in our diet is not only better for our health
but also the planet.


========================================================================== Australia and New Zealand households eat more discretionary and junk
foods than recommended by dietary guidelines, contributing to food-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and other environmental impacts.

University of South Australia (UniSA) dietitian Sara Forbes, who led
a review examining 20 studies on the environmental impacts of food
consumption in both countries, says the findings highlight the need for
more sustainable dietary choices.

According to a Federal Government report released in 2020, Australia
emitted an estimated 510 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, with
food-related emissions accounting for 14.2 per cent of this total. The
report found that the average Australian produces the equivalent of
19.7kg of carbon dioxide each day via their diets.

Another report from 2017 found that food waste comprises approximately
six per cent of Australia's GHGe, considering the water, energy and
pesticides used in food production and packaging that ends up in landfill, where it releases even more methane as it decomposes.

Unlike New Zealand, current Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) do
not consider environmental impacts of food and need to be updated,
researchers say.



==========================================================================
The existing ADG recommends daily servings of 'core' foods every day:
fruit and vegetables, grains, lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds,
legumes, milk, cheese, yoghurt and alternatives.

These core foods are estimated to contribute between 67-73 per cent
of total food-related GHGe in Australia, with meat, grains and dairy contributing the most emissions. Fruit and vegetables are two of the
lowest contributors.

Non-core or 'discretionary' foods include sugar-sweetened drinks,
alcohol, confectionary and processed meats, accounting for between 27-33
per cent of food-related GHGe. While the percentage is lower than core
food emissions, the fact that Australians are consuming large amounts of avoidable energy-rich, nutrient-poor foods is not helping the environment.

In New Zealand, the highest greenhouse gas emitters are meat, seafood and
eggs (35 per cent), followed by highly processed foods such as pastries
and ice cream (34 per cent).

Other studies examined the environmental impacts of water use in food production.



========================================================================== Australian irrigators soak up eight million megalitres of water each
year to grow crops, but the majority are exported, making it difficult
to accurately reflect the nation's water footprint.

The researchers assessed 20 articles in their study, published in the
past decade, with varying findings. Despite the differences, clear
trends emerged.

"Discretionary foods have a higher cropland, water scarcity and Ecological Footprint. Meat also emits greenhouse gases, although its water scarcity footprint is lower compared to dairy products, cereals, grains, fruit
and vegetables," Forbes says.

"It is time we better acknowledged the environmental impacts of the type
and amount of food we eat, considering the planet as well as our health.

"By 2050, the world's population is projected to reach 10 billion
people. There is no way we can feed that amount of people unless we
change the way we eat and produce food." Worldwide, food consumption
and production account for one quarter of total global emissions. Half
of the world's habitable land is used for agriculture which has led to
a 60 per cent biodiversity loss. Furthermore, an estimated two thirds
of the world's freshwater is used for irrigation.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_South_Australia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sara Forbes, Ellyn Bicknell, Ligia Guilovica, Kate Wingrove, Karen
Charlton. A Rapid Review of the Environmental Impacts Associated
with Food Consumption in Australia and New Zealand. Current
Nutrition Reports, 2021; DOI: 10.1007/s13668-021-00374-0 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211105103801.htm

--- up 9 weeks, 1 day, 8 hours, 25 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)