Public Health Alert: Why the Planetary Health Diet Is a Global Mistake Backed by Profit
The Planetary Health Diet looks good on paper. The EAT-Lancet Commission says it will save the planet and make us healthier by eating more plants and cutting back on animal foods. It sounds responsible. But this diet is not about health. It is about control and profit, and the public deserves to know who is behind it and why it’s so dangerous.
The EAT-Lancet plan restricts red meat to about 14 grams a day. That’s one bite of beef. It promotes legumes, grains, and vegetable oils as staples. This diet was not designed by doctors or nutritionists or even scientists who know about human health. It was designed by policy groups funded by corporate foundations including the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and the IKEA Foundation. Novo Nordisk is the same company that makes weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. If the world eats this low-protein, low-fat way, more people will develop metabolic issues, and the demand for those drugs will continue to rise forever.
BlackRock, one of the largest asset managers on Earth, invests heavily in the fake-meat and processed-food industries. A global shift toward plant-based diets greatly benefits them. It means more processed soy, pea, and seed-oil products labeled “planet friendly.” The truth is, the companies that profit most from this plan are the same ones that created the modern health crisis in the first place.
Supporters say the Planetary Health Diet is sustainable, yet there is nothing sustainable about a diet that leaves people nutrient deficient. Research shows it lacks essential nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and calcium unless foods are heavily fortified or supported by synthetic supplements. These nutrients occur naturally and in the most usable form in meat, eggs, and dairy, but they are far less bioavailable available in plants. The EAT-Lancet model overlooks this basic fact of bioavailability. It also ignores that billions of people already struggle to afford nutritious food, and this plan would force them to spend even more on supplements just to meet basic needs.
Take India, for example. The population already eats a mostly vegetarian diet. Yet India faces staggering rates of malnutrition, anemia, and chronic illness. Studies show the Planetary Health Diet would cost up to five times what many Indian families spend on food each day. This is not a model of success. It’s a warning sign. When protein is scarce and calories come mostly from starch and seed oil, health declines. That is exactly what this plan promotes.
The rhetoric sounds noble, save the planet, cut emissions, eat plants. But once you look past the marketing, the science behind it begins to crumble. The studies used to promote the Planetary Health Diet rely on weak observational data that show correlations, not cause and effect. There are no long-term controlled clinical trials proving this diet improves health or protects the environment.
The sustainability argument also falls apart under real-world scrutiny. Growing massive monocrops for grains, soy, and seed oils depletes the soil, destroys biodiversity, and requires heavy use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals pollute waterways and damage ecosystems. Add the global shipping needed to move these plant-based products, and the carbon footprint looks far less “green” than advertised.
In contrast, regenerative livestock farming enriches the land. Well-managed grazing rebuilds the soil, stores carbon, supports pollinators, and produces nutrient-dense food that humans thrive on. Yet this is the system being vilified.
This is why the Planetary Health Diet is not truly about health or the planet, it’s about control. When people depend on fortified foods, lab-grown meat, and synthetic supplements instead of real food, power and profit concentrate in the hands of a few corporations. A population eating nutrient-poor, processed food becomes easier to control and chronically ill, ensuring endless demand for pharmaceuticals and manufactured substitutes. That is the business model. Novo Nordisk profits from obesity and diabetes treatments. BlackRock invests heavily in fake meat and processed food companies. Every shift away from real food means bigger returns for them, not better health for you.
People must wake up. There is no single diet that fits all humans. Our bodies need bioavailable nutrients from real food, especially animal foods. Women, children, and older adults are most at risk when animal protein is restricted. Policy built on this flawed model will cause more harm than good.
We have to speak up. Nutrition policy should be guided by biology and affordability, not ideology or corporate greed. Demand transparency about who funds public-health campaigns. Question any plan that limits access to real food while promoting patented substitutes.
You deserve the freedom to choose foods that support your body and your health. Do not let global institutions decide what goes on your plate in the name of “saving the planet.” There is nothing sustainable about a world full of sick, nutrient-deficient humans.
Disclaimer: The content shared here is for informational and educational purposes only and should never be taken as medical advice.
In writing this blog post, my goal is to distill research findings into a clear, approachable format that encourages critical thinking and empowers you to make informed decisions about your health.
