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Food supply

The Healthy Diet Basket: A Global Standard for Sustainability Research

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new report from Tufts University has revealed the potential of the Healthy Diet Basket (HDB) as a global standard for measuring the cost and affordability of healthy diets. Developed from food-based dietary guidelines, the HDB assesses the economic, nutritional, and environmental characteristics of least-cost diets in 16 national guidelines and the EAT-Lancet reference diet. This research, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has significant implications for global food security and sustainability.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Healthy Diet Basket (HDB) is a standard developed from food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) for measuring the cost and affordability of healthy diets.
  • The HDB was analyzed in relation to 16 national FBDG and the EAT-Lancet reference diet, revealing its economic, nutritional, and environmental characteristics.
  • The average cost of the HDB per person per day was US$3.68 in 2021, slightly lower than most FBDG.
  • The HDB's macronutrient levels fell within acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges, and the average mean adequacy ratio of 15 micronutrients and protein was 95%.
  • The HDB's carbon and water footprints were found to be similar to the EAT-Lancet reference diet.
  • The research concluded that the HDB can serve as a global standard, highlighting the lack of access to healthy and sustainable diets globally.
  • The study has been peer-reviewed and published in Nature Food.
  • Authors of the study include Anna W. Herforth, Aishwarya Venkat, William A. Masters, and Yan Bai.
  • The research was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Statistics:

  • The average cost of the HDB per person per day was US$3.68 in 2021.
  • The HDB's macronutrient levels fell within acceptable ranges for all macronutrients.
  • The average mean adequacy ratio of 15 micronutrients and protein was 95% for the HDB.
  • The HDB's carbon footprint was similar to the EAT-Lancet reference diet.
  • The HDB's water footprint was also similar to the EAT-Lancet reference diet.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Findings from Tufts University Broaden Understanding of Sustainability Research (The Healthy Diet Basket Is a Valid Global Standard That Highlights Lack of Access To Healthy and Sustainable Diets). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. June 27, 2025; p 102.
  • The Healthy Diet Basket Is a Valid Global Standard That Highlights Lack of Access To Healthy and Sustainable Diets. Nature Food, 2025.
  • Nature Food can be contacted at: Nature Portfolio, Heidelberger Platz 3, Berlin, 14197, Germany.

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