Diet plays a critical role in shaping the health and well-being of both individuals and populations. Healthy, safe diets help to protect against malnutrition in all its forms, as well as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, and foodborne diseases caused by physical, chemical or biological hazards. The balance between the amount of foods coming from animals (animal-source foods) and from plants (plant-source foods) is an important component of healthy diets. Animal-source foods are a good source of highly bioavailable protein and key vitamins and minerals, but consumption of certain types and at certain levels has been linked to increased risk of diet-related NCDs. Consumption of plant-source foods has been linked to decreased risk of diet-related NCDs but diets consisting almost exclusively of plant-source foods may increase risk of nutrient deficiencies. A growing body of evidence also suggests that the food systems used to produce animal- and plant-source foods can impact the environment in different and significant ways, including the emission of greenhouse gases and water and land use.
To provide much-needed, evidence-informed guidance on this important topic, WHO has brought together experts from all over the globe (WHO guideline development group or ‘GDG’), with a wide range of relevant expertise to develop a guideline on optimal intake of animal-source foods, following the WHO guideline development process. Early steps in the process include establishing the scope of the guideline and the key questions that will guide the collection of scientific evidence and inform the development of recommendations. The scope of the WHO guideline on optimal intake of animal-source foods has been established by the GDG at a first meeting in November 2024 with further refinement via additional discussion and virtual meetings. Results of a WHO-commissioned scoping review of the scientific literature informed the development of the scope. In addition to evidence for health effects, the GDG will review contextual factors as a required component of the WHO guideline development process, including environmental impact and sustainability. Furthermore, the work of the GDG will be complemented by the development of a risk-benefit assessment framework that will take into consideration microbial and chemical risks associated with animal- and plant-source foods and will support future implementation of the recommendations.
WHO is sharing information about the scope with stakeholders and the general public. The scope document may be accessed, and comments submitted at https://extranet.who.int/dataformv6/index.php/155928
The call for comment will be open through 30 September 2025.
Questions regarding the call should be addressed to Healthy_Diet@who.int.