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Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Blue Water Use of Dutch Diets and Its Association with Health

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  • Reina E. Vellinga

    (Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, The Netherlands)

  • Mirjam van de Kamp

    (Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, The Netherlands)

  • Ido B. Toxopeus

    (Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, The Netherlands)

  • Caroline T. M. van Rossum

    (Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, The Netherlands)

  • Elias de Valk

    (Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, The Netherlands)

  • Sander Biesbroek

    (Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, The Netherlands)

  • Anne Hollander

    (Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, The Netherlands)

  • Elisabeth H. M. Temme

    (Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Food consumption patterns affect the environment as well as public health, and monitoring is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Dutch food consumption patterns for environmental (greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and blue water use) and health aspects (Dutch Healthy Diet index 2015), according to age, gender, and consumption moments. Food consumption data for 4313 Dutch participants aged 1 to 79 years were assessed in 2012 to 2016, by two non-consecutive 24-h recalls. The environmental impact of foods was quantified using a life cycle assessment for, e.g., indicators of GHG emissions and blue water use. The healthiness of diet, operationalized by the Dutch Healthy Diet index 2015, was assessed for 2078 adults aged ≥19 years. The average daily diet in the Netherlands was associated with 5.0 ± 2.0 kg CO 2 -equivalents of GHG emissions and 0.14 ± 0.08 m 3 of blue water use. Meat, dairy and non-alcoholic beverages contributed most to GHG emissions, and non-alcoholic beverages, fruits, and meat to blue water use. More healthy diets were associated with a lower GHG emission and higher blue water use. Different associations of environmental indicators (GHG emissions and blue water use) with health aspects of diets need to be considered when aligning diets for health and sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Reina E. Vellinga & Mirjam van de Kamp & Ido B. Toxopeus & Caroline T. M. van Rossum & Elias de Valk & Sander Biesbroek & Anne Hollander & Elisabeth H. M. Temme, 2019. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Blue Water Use of Dutch Diets and Its Association with Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:21:p:6027-:d:281656
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Payró, Clara & Taherzadeh, Oliver & van Oorschot, Mark & Koch, Julia & Koch, Julia & Marselis, Suzanne, 2023. "Consumer resistance diminishes environmental gains of dietary change," SocArXiv m98kr, Center for Open Science.
    2. Elisabeth H.M. Temme & Reina E. Vellinga & Henri de Ruiter & Susanna Kugelberg & Mirjam van de Kamp & Anna Milford & Roberta Alessandrini & Fabio Bartolini & Alberto Sanz-Cobena & Adrian Leip, 2020. "Demand-Side Food Policies for Public and Planetary Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Liselot Koelman & Inge Huybrechts & Sander Biesbroek & Pieter van ‘t Veer & Matthias B. Schulze & Krasimira Aleksandrova, 2022. "Dietary Choices Impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Determinants and Correlates in a Sample of Adults from Eastern Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-10, March.

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