A leading medical researcher has expressed concerns about the nutritional composition of alternative meat products.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Professor Alice Stanton presented research which showed plant-based burgers contain four times more salt than conventional beef burgers.
“There is a danger because people… will think they are doing good for their health by eating veggie burgers,” she said.
Professor Alice Stanton from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Stanton described plant-based burgers as “highly processed” and “filled with flavourings and salt”.
“All of our deductions would be that they will promote obesity,” she maintained.
Stanton is a clinician-scientist at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and is director of human health at Devenish Nutrition.
Red meat is a very balanced food
Her presentation at last week’s conference examined a common misconception among consumers that eating meat is damaging for human health.
Stanton presented data which showed that high red meat consumption is responsible for less than 0.5% of deaths and disease burdens that are caused by dietary factors.
“Red meat is a very balanced food. It has a balanced amino acid composition and is rich in micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc and selenium.
“Red meat in moderation appears to be protective of human health,” she said.
Speakers at the Oxford Farming Conference included (from left); Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers; Professor Fiona Smith, University of Leeds; Craig Bennett, Friends of the Earth; Anna Hill, BBC; and Minette Batters, National Farmers' Union.
Looking at the dairy sector, Stanton showed research which compared disease incidence between people who consumed two portions of dairy each day and those who had a half a portion.
“There is a 25% reduction in cardiovascular disease in those who are eating at least two portions a day of dairy.
“Data is most strong for whole fat dairy produce and the relationship is weakened by low fat dairy produce,” she said.
Vegan diets
The medic said that it is possible for vegans and vegetarians to have healthy diets, although she added that it requires knowledge and effort to achieve the correct balance of protein and micronutrients.
“Even with that, there are some key nutrients, such as iron and vitamin B12, that they need to supplement.
“The data is that, even with supplementation, levels are borderline among pure vegans,” she said.
Stanton provided an analysis on the environmental impact of different food types compared with density of energy and key nutrients in each food.
It showed that, although fruit and vegetables have lower overall greenhouse gas emissions, red meat contains more calories and nutrients and therefore had a lower carbon footprint on a nutritional density basis.
While plant-based burgers had the highest nutritional density, it also had the highest greenhouse gas emissions.
During a questions session, Stanton was asked about the potential for lab-grown meat products in diets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
She said that there is currently “huge requirements for energy” to produce both cultured and fermented food products in laboratories.
“It doesn’t balance out, but that may change in the future. There will also be a cultural acceptance; do we want to eat the equivalent of dog food?” she said.
Direct payments to drop in England from 2021
Farmers in England will begin a seven-year transition period away from direct support payments in 2021.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Theresa Villiers, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, reiterated the UK government’s intention to have a post-Brexit agricultural policy in England that is based on “public money for public goods”.
The Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme will focus mainly on delivering environmental outcomes, with Villiers giving examples of restoring peatlands, planting hedgerows and sowing pollinator margins.
The UK government has committed to maintain the total budget for UK farmers at current levels
Agricultural policy is a devolved matter in the UK which means it will be up to local agriculture ministers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to devise post-Brexit farm support schemes in each region.
The UK government has committed to maintain the total budget for UK farmers at current levels until the end of the parliament, which is likely to go up to 2024.
Villiers said that direct payments will be gradually reduced in England from 2021 and the money saved will be used to fund pilot projects under ELM throughout the seven-year transition period.
She maintained that individual plans under ELM will be created for each farm: “There will be no one-size-fits-all model.”
However, National Farmers’ Union president Minette Batters used her address last week to make the case for a direct support payment to remain part of English agricultural policy.
“Some form of stability payment will be essential to managing risk, and at the very least we should be looking to maintain 30% of the current direct support until we have economic certainty,” she said.
Scepticism
There was some scepticism of the government’s plans at Oxford, particularly because the Rural Payments Agency already has a poor record in administering payments under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.
In response, David Kennedy from the RPA told the conference that private consultants could be used to help draw up individual ELM plans and inspect participating farmers.
Speaking at a fringe event, Richard King from the Andersons Centre said that ELM “fundamentally changes the profitability equation” for English farmers.
“Even if nothing else happens and we get a great trade deal with frictionless trade, there will be some big changes in agriculture over the next few years,” he said.
WTO will allow UK to uphold import standards
World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules can allow the UK to implement a trade policy where food imports do not undermine domestic production standards, an international trade expert has said.
“WTO rules do not stop countries adopting policies designed to protect the natural environment and guarantee animal welfare and strong food safety standards,” Professor Fiona Smith told the Oxford Farming Conference.
Professor Fiona Smith from the University of Leeds.
Some conference delegates were dubious about commitments made by senior government minister Theresa Villiers that the UK will not allow the import of low-production standard food after Brexit.
Their doubts mainly stemmed from WTO rules that do not allow a country to discriminate in how tariffs are applied to its different trading partners.
However, in her presentation, Smith said that it is possible to embed domestic policy priorities, such as supporting sustainable farming methods, into international trade agreements.
Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference.
“We can see a trend towards recognising the importance of environmental standards as a reason not to allow the import of products,” the University of Leeds academic said.
“The issue is that both parties [in trade deal negotiations] have to agree to this ambitious agenda, and such an agreement will take time,” Smith added.
Read more
Villiers to re-introduce agriculture bill this month
Coarse wool used for packaging and insulation
Soil Association chief questioned on glyphosate at Oxford
A leading medical researcher has expressed concerns about the nutritional composition of alternative meat products.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Professor Alice Stanton presented research which showed plant-based burgers contain four times more salt than conventional beef burgers.
“There is a danger because people… will think they are doing good for their health by eating veggie burgers,” she said.
Professor Alice Stanton from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Stanton described plant-based burgers as “highly processed” and “filled with flavourings and salt”.
“All of our deductions would be that they will promote obesity,” she maintained.
Stanton is a clinician-scientist at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and is director of human health at Devenish Nutrition.
Red meat is a very balanced food
Her presentation at last week’s conference examined a common misconception among consumers that eating meat is damaging for human health.
Stanton presented data which showed that high red meat consumption is responsible for less than 0.5% of deaths and disease burdens that are caused by dietary factors.
“Red meat is a very balanced food. It has a balanced amino acid composition and is rich in micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc and selenium.
“Red meat in moderation appears to be protective of human health,” she said.
Speakers at the Oxford Farming Conference included (from left); Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers; Professor Fiona Smith, University of Leeds; Craig Bennett, Friends of the Earth; Anna Hill, BBC; and Minette Batters, National Farmers' Union.
Looking at the dairy sector, Stanton showed research which compared disease incidence between people who consumed two portions of dairy each day and those who had a half a portion.
“There is a 25% reduction in cardiovascular disease in those who are eating at least two portions a day of dairy.
“Data is most strong for whole fat dairy produce and the relationship is weakened by low fat dairy produce,” she said.
Vegan diets
The medic said that it is possible for vegans and vegetarians to have healthy diets, although she added that it requires knowledge and effort to achieve the correct balance of protein and micronutrients.
“Even with that, there are some key nutrients, such as iron and vitamin B12, that they need to supplement.
“The data is that, even with supplementation, levels are borderline among pure vegans,” she said.
Stanton provided an analysis on the environmental impact of different food types compared with density of energy and key nutrients in each food.
It showed that, although fruit and vegetables have lower overall greenhouse gas emissions, red meat contains more calories and nutrients and therefore had a lower carbon footprint on a nutritional density basis.
While plant-based burgers had the highest nutritional density, it also had the highest greenhouse gas emissions.
During a questions session, Stanton was asked about the potential for lab-grown meat products in diets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
She said that there is currently “huge requirements for energy” to produce both cultured and fermented food products in laboratories.
“It doesn’t balance out, but that may change in the future. There will also be a cultural acceptance; do we want to eat the equivalent of dog food?” she said.
Direct payments to drop in England from 2021
Farmers in England will begin a seven-year transition period away from direct support payments in 2021.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Theresa Villiers, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, reiterated the UK government’s intention to have a post-Brexit agricultural policy in England that is based on “public money for public goods”.
The Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme will focus mainly on delivering environmental outcomes, with Villiers giving examples of restoring peatlands, planting hedgerows and sowing pollinator margins.
The UK government has committed to maintain the total budget for UK farmers at current levels
Agricultural policy is a devolved matter in the UK which means it will be up to local agriculture ministers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to devise post-Brexit farm support schemes in each region.
The UK government has committed to maintain the total budget for UK farmers at current levels until the end of the parliament, which is likely to go up to 2024.
Villiers said that direct payments will be gradually reduced in England from 2021 and the money saved will be used to fund pilot projects under ELM throughout the seven-year transition period.
She maintained that individual plans under ELM will be created for each farm: “There will be no one-size-fits-all model.”
However, National Farmers’ Union president Minette Batters used her address last week to make the case for a direct support payment to remain part of English agricultural policy.
“Some form of stability payment will be essential to managing risk, and at the very least we should be looking to maintain 30% of the current direct support until we have economic certainty,” she said.
Scepticism
There was some scepticism of the government’s plans at Oxford, particularly because the Rural Payments Agency already has a poor record in administering payments under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.
In response, David Kennedy from the RPA told the conference that private consultants could be used to help draw up individual ELM plans and inspect participating farmers.
Speaking at a fringe event, Richard King from the Andersons Centre said that ELM “fundamentally changes the profitability equation” for English farmers.
“Even if nothing else happens and we get a great trade deal with frictionless trade, there will be some big changes in agriculture over the next few years,” he said.
WTO will allow UK to uphold import standards
World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules can allow the UK to implement a trade policy where food imports do not undermine domestic production standards, an international trade expert has said.
“WTO rules do not stop countries adopting policies designed to protect the natural environment and guarantee animal welfare and strong food safety standards,” Professor Fiona Smith told the Oxford Farming Conference.
Professor Fiona Smith from the University of Leeds.
Some conference delegates were dubious about commitments made by senior government minister Theresa Villiers that the UK will not allow the import of low-production standard food after Brexit.
Their doubts mainly stemmed from WTO rules that do not allow a country to discriminate in how tariffs are applied to its different trading partners.
However, in her presentation, Smith said that it is possible to embed domestic policy priorities, such as supporting sustainable farming methods, into international trade agreements.
Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference.
“We can see a trend towards recognising the importance of environmental standards as a reason not to allow the import of products,” the University of Leeds academic said.
“The issue is that both parties [in trade deal negotiations] have to agree to this ambitious agenda, and such an agreement will take time,” Smith added.
Read more
Villiers to re-introduce agriculture bill this month
Coarse wool used for packaging and insulation
Soil Association chief questioned on glyphosate at Oxford
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: