The importance of eggs in an environmentally sustainable diet.

animal foods diet eggs environmental impact greenhouse gas emissions sustainability

Journal

Nutrition bulletin
ISSN: 1467-3010
Titre abrégé: Nutr Bull
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9315625

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
09 2023
Historique:
revised: 09 07 2023
received: 05 06 2023
accepted: 14 07 2023
medline: 21 8 2023
pubmed: 18 8 2023
entrez: 18 8 2023
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

Food and diet globally have a significant environmental impact. Whilst there is broad agreement on the principles underpinning a healthy, sustainable diet, the interpretation of what it might mean in practice is widely debated. Misconceptions are common, including around the environmental impact of eggs and their place in a healthy, sustainable diet. Eggs are often categorised with other animal proteins such as beef, lamb, poultry, meat and dairy when reporting on the potential environmental impact of food and diets. However, the shift towards more planet-friendly diets demands a clear understanding of the evidence base on which such a diet should be based. This review evaluates scientific reports and peer-reviewed articles that have evaluated the environmental impact of hens' eggs in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs), and land and water use and compared the impacts of eggs with those of other animal and plant proteins. This overview shows that eggs are responsible for less carbon, land and water use than other animal proteins, particularly beef and only slightly more than most plant proteins. Eggs are a nutritious, convenient and relatively inexpensive food, which traditionally has had an important place in the diet both in the United Kingdom and globally. It is therefore important to understand where they fit in terms of environmental impact and into advice on healthier, more sustainable dietary patterns.

Identifiants

pubmed: 37593824
doi: 10.1111/nbu.12632
doi:

Substances chimiques

Plant Proteins 0
Water 059QF0KO0R

Types de publication

Review Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

400-410

Informations de copyright

© 2023 British Nutrition Foundation.

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Auteurs

Pamela Mason (P)

Independent Food and Nutrition Researcher, Brecon, UK.

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