Speaking at the recent British Cattle Breeders conference Prof Alice Stanton, of RCSi University of Medicine and Health Sciences, said many of these recommendations ignored the protections against deficiencies and chronic diseases afforded by animal-source foods.
Prof Stanton highlighted the EAT-Lancet report as being something that had wielded influence over food consumption guidelines, but she also questioned whether it was 鈥榥utritionally adequate'.
EAT-Lancet
She said: "EAT Lancet recommends doubling of fruit and vegetables in the diet, and halving animal sourced foods from 25 per cent to 13 per cent. It advises a reduction in red meat consumption to 7g a day, which is the equivalent to one 7oz steak a month.
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"But we need to ask whether this is going to be nutritionally adequate, and in particular whether the micro-nutrients of these recommended diets are going to be adequate."
Micro-nutrients
Prof Stanton said research had found that these diets were deficient in key micro-nutrients, particularly for women of child-bearing age.
"We need to move animal-source foods back up to over 25 per cent."
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Prof Stanton said she expected the second EAT Lancet report would include more meat-based foods within its recommended guidelines, but said there were multiple dietary guidelines and recommendations that continue to be influenced by the report.
She added that it was vital the scientific review system for these reports was tightened up on.
