Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns
Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are powerful country-level policies that can guide healthy diets from sustainable food systems. They are associated with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 13 (climate actio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2025-08-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18967 |
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| author | Nanine Wyma Anna-Lena Klapp Pierrette Nhlapo Marybeth Ubanwa Christi Niesing |
| author_facet | Nanine Wyma Anna-Lena Klapp Pierrette Nhlapo Marybeth Ubanwa Christi Niesing |
| author_sort | Nanine Wyma |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are powerful country-level policies that can guide healthy diets from sustainable food systems. They are associated with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 13 (climate action). However, most FBDGs still favour animal-based food consumption despite increasing global adoption of plant-based dietary patterns to meet health and climate targets. Our objectives were to review the extent of African FBDGs and to analyse their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns. A state-of-the-art literature review was conducted, including qualitative analysis and quantitative scoring using the Balanced Food Choice Index system. We found that 12 African countries had FBDGs, although these contained less information about plant-based dietary patterns than the global average. The most balanced guidelines were from South Africa, Namibia, Benin, Gabon and Zambia. One-quarter of FBDGs in Africa refer to the sustainability of plant-based foods or dietary patterns. However, there was a significant lack of awareness of some forms of plant-based diets, with only two FBDGs discussing vegetarian diets. Five African dietary guidelines included plant-based alternatives to meat, milk or dairy. Future African FBDGs are encouraged to be inclusive of plant-based dietary choices and balance the various health, economic, environmental and ethical aspects that play a role in people’s food choices.
Significance:
• We reviewed food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) in Africa, finding a considerable shortfall in official recommendations for the broad spectrum of plant-based diets. Only 12 African countries have FBDGs, representing one-quarter of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) member countries from Africa.
• According to our analysis, sustainability is included in one-quarter of African guidelines, because they explain the environmental benefits of plant-based foods or dietary patterns. Two guidelines discuss vegetarian diets, and five guidelines include plant-based alternatives to meat, milk or dairy.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-27bbded117c243579fba2c16c661d573 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-27bbded117c243579fba2c16c661d5732025-08-20T03:41:47ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892025-08-011217/810.17159/sajs.2025/18967Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patternsNanine Wyma0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9366-8817Anna-Lena Klapp1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8020-8420Pierrette Nhlapo2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2431-5923Marybeth Ubanwa3https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6875-3972Christi Niesing4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2226-04391.Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; 2.Physicians Association for Nutrition South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa1.Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; 2.ProVeg International, Berlin, Germany1.Physicians Association for Nutrition South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa; 2.Department of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa1.Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK; 2.Tailored Foods, Vaughan, Ontario, CanadaAfrica Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are powerful country-level policies that can guide healthy diets from sustainable food systems. They are associated with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 13 (climate action). However, most FBDGs still favour animal-based food consumption despite increasing global adoption of plant-based dietary patterns to meet health and climate targets. Our objectives were to review the extent of African FBDGs and to analyse their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns. A state-of-the-art literature review was conducted, including qualitative analysis and quantitative scoring using the Balanced Food Choice Index system. We found that 12 African countries had FBDGs, although these contained less information about plant-based dietary patterns than the global average. The most balanced guidelines were from South Africa, Namibia, Benin, Gabon and Zambia. One-quarter of FBDGs in Africa refer to the sustainability of plant-based foods or dietary patterns. However, there was a significant lack of awareness of some forms of plant-based diets, with only two FBDGs discussing vegetarian diets. Five African dietary guidelines included plant-based alternatives to meat, milk or dairy. Future African FBDGs are encouraged to be inclusive of plant-based dietary choices and balance the various health, economic, environmental and ethical aspects that play a role in people’s food choices. Significance: • We reviewed food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) in Africa, finding a considerable shortfall in official recommendations for the broad spectrum of plant-based diets. Only 12 African countries have FBDGs, representing one-quarter of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) member countries from Africa. • According to our analysis, sustainability is included in one-quarter of African guidelines, because they explain the environmental benefits of plant-based foods or dietary patterns. Two guidelines discuss vegetarian diets, and five guidelines include plant-based alternatives to meat, milk or dairy. https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18967nutrition policyplant-based dietdietary guidelinesAfricaSustainable Development Goals |
| spellingShingle | Nanine Wyma Anna-Lena Klapp Pierrette Nhlapo Marybeth Ubanwa Christi Niesing Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns South African Journal of Science nutrition policy plant-based diet dietary guidelines Africa Sustainable Development Goals |
| title | Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns |
| title_full | Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns |
| title_fullStr | Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns |
| title_short | Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns |
| title_sort | food based dietary guidelines in africa and their inclusivity of plant based dietary patterns |
| topic | nutrition policy plant-based diet dietary guidelines Africa Sustainable Development Goals |
| url | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18967 |
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