Research

Mixed

As food systems transition from rural/traditional to industrial/consolidated, the affordability of a recommended nutritious diet improves significantly, yet industrial systems fail to deliver optimal nutrition, environmental sustainability, and equity.

Do not assume that simply having the money to buy a 'healthy' diet guarantees good health outcomes. In industrialized food systems, while you can afford the recommended diet, the actual quality, environmental impact, and equity of that food supply may still be suboptimal. Focus on the quality and source of food, not just its cost.

GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
We show that the affordability of a recommended diet has improved over time, but food systems of all types are falling short of delivering optimal nutrition and health outcomes, environmental sustainability, and inclusion and equity for all.
Ramya Ambikapathi et al. · Nature Food · 2022

Why this rating

Large-scale observational analysis of global food system typologies and economic data.

Source

Global food systems transitions have enabled affordable diets but had less favourable outcomes for nutrition, environmental health, inclusion and equity

Ramya Ambikapathi et al. · Nature Food · 2022

DOI 10.1038/s43016-022-00588-7

narrative_reviewCited 220×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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