Rethinking What’s on Our Plates: What the New EAT-Lancet Report Means for Canada’s Food Future

In October 2025, The Lancet released a powerful update to its landmark global food systems research — the EAT-Lancet 2.0 Commission on Healthy, Sustainable, and Just Food Systems. The report argues that what we eat shapes not only our health but also the future of the planet and the fairness of our societies.

For Canadians, that message hits close to home.

We produce more food than most countries, yet one in five households still experiences food insecurity.

Grocery costs continue to climb, farm labourers face uncertain working conditions, and diet-related illnesses such as heart disease remain widespread. The EAT-Lancet 2.0 report places these issues within a global context and offers a roadmap for transformation — one that Canada can help lead.

At the centre of the report is the updated Planetary Health Diet, a flexible eating pattern designed to nourish people while protecting the Earth. It emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, with smaller portions of animal-sourced foods and limited processed meat, sugar, and refined grains.

The Commission estimates that if adopted worldwide, this approach could prevent up to 15 million premature deaths each year and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and biodiversity loss.

What makes this new edition even more significant is its focus on justice. The Commission argues that a sustainable food system must also be a fair one — for workers, producers, and communities. That includes ensuring living wages and safe conditions for agricultural and food industry workers, respecting Indigenous food sovereignty, and guaranteeing access to affordable, nutritious food for everyone, including those in northern and rural communities. In other words, sustainability without equity isn’t truly sustainable.

For Canada, the implications are profound. Our food system accounts for about 10% of national greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s also rich in innovation. Farmers across the Prairies are experimenting with regenerative practices that restore soil and capture carbon. Coastal fisheries are adopting sustainable harvesting and aquaculture models. Yet systemic change requires supportive policies — rethinking subsidies, reducing food waste, and improving access to healthy food for all Canadians.

The EAT-Lancet 2.0 report also encourages us to see food as part of culture and community.

Canadian cuisine, from salmon and bannock to lentils and barley, shows how tradition can align with sustainability.

The goal isn’t to abandon familiar foods but to rebalance our plates so they’re healthier for both people and the planet. Individually, small actions make a real difference. Choosing more plant-based meals, wasting less food, and supporting local, ethical producers all contribute to a fairer and greener food system. Canadians throw away roughly 140 kilograms of edible food per household every year, so even simple steps like meal planning or composting can have an impact.

Ultimately, the EAT-Lancet 2.0 report reminds us that every meal is part of a much larger story. What we eat affects climate policy, land use, and social equity. As the report implies, a food system that nourishes people should also nourish the planet — and treat everyone involved with dignity.

Canada has both the capacity and the community spirit to lead this transformation. Whether you’re a policymaker, a producer, or simply someone deciding what’s for dinner, your choices matter. Together, we can build a food future that’s healthy, sustainable, and just — for everyone.

Article Referenced: “EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy, sustainable and just food systems” (published in The Lancet, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01201-2).