The Planetary Health Diet in contrast to the food-based dietary guidelines

The Planetary Health Diet was developed as a global concept for a health-promoting diet that stays within planetary boundaries. It received a great deal of attention when it was published. However, the methods used to derive the Planetary Health Diet, its statements, and its feasibility in terms of practical implementation nevertheless need to be evaluated through scientific discourse. To this end, this German Nutrition Society statement compares the recommended food quantities of the Planetary Health Diet with the German Nutrition Society’s food-based dietary guidelines and with data on actual food intakes in Germany. The results show that there is broad agreement between the Planetary Health Diet and the German Nutrition Society’s recommendations as they are both plant-based diets. The main differences are in the recommendations for milk and dairy products. The practical implementation of the Planetary Health Diet requires that regional conditions are taken into account as an additional step. The German Nutrition Society’s recommendations already consider regional conditions. The nutritional reality in Germany sharply contrasts with both recommendations. Ernahrungs Umschau 2022 69 56-72