The United Nations (UN) has recently confirmed the vital contributions of terrestrial animal source food (TASF) within healthy dietary patterns to meet the global nutrition targets for 2025. This affirmation comes hot on the heels of recent coverage in the scientific publication “Animal Frontiers,” confirming meat’s global role in society and good health. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN’s new report outlines the key nutritional benefits of TASF, primarily focusing on nutrient and bioactive composition.
As per the UN report, TASF provides higher-quality proteins in comparison to other foods, with some nuanced differences in digestibility. It further states that iron and zinc present in red meat are bound in compounds that are “more bioavailable and may be more easily digested than those in which they are bound in plant-based foods.” In adults, meat intake of between 85 and 300 g/day can protect against iron deficiency. Poultry meat has not been extensively studied, but findings suggest nonsignificant effects on stroke risk, with subgroup analyses suggesting protective effects in women.
Although the GBD study has criticized Red meat, the UN report points out that “other studies have shown nonsignificant effects of beef on chronic disease biomarkers.” It adds that the evidence case for red meat consumption in adults has been thoroughly assessed by the GBD report and shows some increased risk of chronic disease associated with consumption of 23 g (18–27 g) per day of red meat and 2 g (0–4 g) per day of processed meat.
The report even recognizes the highly debated assertions published in the GBD study. This study indicates an increased risk of chronic diseases associated with small daily doses of red meat consumption, but some studies have shown non-significant effects on chronic disease biomarkers and cognitive outcomes in children.
The UN report concludes with admitting that there exist gaps in evidence and policy related to the contributions of TASF to healthy diets. Nonetheless, a deeper understanding of the interactions of TASF nutrients and bioactive compounds with other foods in the overall diet and their impacts on nutrition, health and cognitive outcomes across the human lives course is required.
The report also makes policy recommendations on the consumption of TASF, covering consumption of meat, milk, dairy products, and eggs. However, it adds that there is significantly less coverage of offal, poultry, pig meat, meat from wild animals, and insects.
Moreover, science related to TASF alternatives, including plant-based food and cell-cultured “meat,” is relatively new. As per the data, these products cannot replace TASF in terms of nutritional composition. Plant-based meat alternatives that are widely available in the market turn out to be deficient in some vital nutrients and high in saturated fat, sodium, and sugar. Therefore, micro-algae are highly regarded as a TASF alternative because of their rich nutritional composition and natural carbon sink advantages.
Lastly, the report emphasizes the need for further research into completing food-safety risk assessment for cell-cultured “meat” produced at the industrial scale. If you want to read the full report, click here.
