The Netherlands Nutrition Centre has updated the country’s national food guidelines, placing a greater emphasis on plant-based foods and reducing recommended quantities of meat and dairy products. The revised guidelines increase the recommended consumption of legumes, while capping meat intake and decreasing the daily allowance of cheese. These changes were made to align with environmental considerations, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water use, as well as addressing issues like PFAS contamination and heavy metal exposure.

The updated Schijf van Vijf guide retains its five food sections, emphasizing vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre acknowledges the challenge of bridging the gap between national recommendations and actual eating habits, offering personalized dietary advice through tools like the Schijf van Vijf voor jou. This shift in food guidelines reflects a wider policy change in the Netherlands, with initiatives like Amsterdam’s ban on meat advertising and a goal to promote 50% plant-based diets by 2050. The Centre emphasizes that governments, producers, and providers also play a crucial role in making healthy and sustainable food options more accessible and affordable to the wider population.