Norway Advises Eating ‘Mostly Plant-Based Food’ in New Dietary Guidelines, But Ignores the Climate

Norway has updated its national dietary guidelines to promote a predominantly plant-based diet, reducing recommended red meat consumption by 30% and endorsing plant proteins and meat analogues. The guidelines emphasize the importance of a varied diet consisting mostly of food from the plant kingdom, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, peas, and nuts. While the new recommendations are a step in the right direction, they do not take into account the climate impact of food choices, unlike other European countries such as Germany and Austria.

Ignoring the environmental impact of the food system is concerning, especially in a country like Norway where climate denial is high. While the new guidelines include plant proteins and dairy alternatives, more needs to be done to incorporate climate change considerations into Norway's dietary recommendations. The focus on nutrition and health alone overlooks the significant role of diet in reducing emissions, with meat and dairy accounting for a majority of food-related emissions.