FAO highlights contribution of animal source foods to healthy diets

The FAO just published a report on the “contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes – An evidence and policy overview on the state of knowledge and gaps”. 

The nutritional value of poultrymeat is recognized and highlighted, especially in terms of high-quality protein, vitamin B12 and selenium.  

An overall takeaway is that animal source foods contribute to healthy diets.  

Another key finding focuses on the nutritional value of animal source food:

Science related to TASF alternatives, including plantbased food and cell-cultured “meat”, is relatively new. Evidence suggests that these products cannot replace TASF in terms of nutritional composition. Microalgae are highly regarded as a TASF alternative because of their rich nutritional composition and the advantages they may offer as a natural carbon sink. Nevertheless, plant-based meat alternatives that are widely  available on the market have been found to be deficient in some essential nutrients and high in saturated fat, sodium and sugar. Further research is also needed to complete food-safety risk assessment for cell-cultured “meat” produced at industrial scale.

Link to the publication 
Link to key messages 

Infographics: 
Animal source foods are rich in iron, a micronutrient essential to life 
Animal source foods contribute to healthy diets