Introduction
The global population is growing rapidly, with over 8 billion people today and projections suggesting a reach of 10 billion by 2050. The concern is that the Earth’s exploitable land has its limits, and humanity’s food needs are no longer sustainable. Our current dietary habits are degrading the environment, leading to planetary depletion; thus, transforming existing food systems is urgent.
The EAT-Lancet 2025 Report
Recently, the EAT-Lancet 2025: Towards Sustainable, Equitable, and Healthy Food Systems report was presented at the National Academy of Medicine (ANM), chaired by Raul Carrillo Esper. The report aimed to reflect on the urgency of this transformation and how to achieve it.
The Planetary Health Diet
The primary proposal is the planetary health diet, designed to feed a growing global population without exceeding Earth’s natural limits. This diet suggests doubling the consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and pulses while cutting red meat and sugar consumption in half. Adopting this diet could not only reduce pressure on the planet but also prevent up to 15 million premature adult deaths annually.
Mexico’s Role
During the ANM event, Secretary of Health David Kershenobich and Secretary of Agriculture Julio Berdegué Sacristán emphasized Mexico’s active participation in this transition. They also highlighted the need to address food insecurity (hunger, malnutrition, and overweight/obesity) by implementing measures such as labeling, taxes on sugary drinks, and controlling processed foods in schools.
Comprehensive Food System Transformation
Experts Juan Rivera Dommarco, Mario Herrero, and Fabrice DeClerk discussed the EAT-Lancet reports (2019 and 2025) in the context of Mexico and Latin America. They emphasized that transforming food systems involves not just dietary changes but a package of actions, including modifying what we eat, increasing productivity, and reducing 40% of global food waste. These components must be implemented simultaneously to effectively reduce land use by 7% and emissions by 20%.
Global Food System Limits
The report sets planetary limits for food systems, including carbon emissions, land-use change, biodiversity, freshwater use, and new entities like plastics and pesticides. Currently, the food system is the primary cause of exceeding 7 out of 9 planetary boundaries: contributing to climate change by 30%, responsible for 80% of biodiversity loss, representing 40% of land use, covering 70-75% of freshwater use, and causing 70-75% of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Overuse of pesticides is also widespread.
Regional Dietary Gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean
In Latin America and the Caribbean, there are significant disparities in food consumption. Vegetable intake is 41% below recommendations, while fruit consumption is adequate. Low consumption of nuts and seeds is also observed, contrasting with high red meat consumption exceeding recommendations. Mexico is an extreme case, consuming red meat five times more than advised, necessitating immediate action to increase vegetable protein intake.
Additional News
IMSS Bienestar Revives Kidney Transplant Program
In positive news for Mexico’s public health, IMSS Bienestar has restarted its Renal Transplant Program, previously abandoned outside social security. The program successfully performed a cadaveric donor kidney transplant for Abel, a 44-year-old man suffering from chronic kidney disease due to hypertension, who relied on hemodialysis for nearly a decade. The multidisciplinary team coordinated the transplant, which functioned optimally, eliminating the need for hemodialysis. Abel was discharged after seven days with a favorable long-term prognosis.
PepsiCo Commits to Reducing Calories in 90% of Its Beverages
PepsiCo and GEPP have pledged to ensure that 90% of their beverage portfolio contains less than 20 calories per 100 milliliters by 2030. They plan to expand their low- and no-calorie beverage offerings, commit to responsible communication (excluding children in flavored drink advertisements), and innovate in single-serving packaging. This initiative, they state, responds to a sustained product reformulation agenda driven by technological advances and stricter internal standards than market requirements, without compromising taste or consumer experience.
Haleon México Introduces Health Inclusivity Index
Haleon México unveiled the Health Inclusivity Index, developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and University College London academics. This global first evaluates the economic and social impact of eliminating barriers to healthcare access for vulnerable groups in 40 countries, including six Latin American nations: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, and Mexico. The index combines policy analysis, experiences from 42,000 individuals, and economic projections on the benefits of greater health equity.
