A new report says that in order to sustain the global population, everyone needs to change what they eat.
It involves serious change and the adoption of a planetary health diet
Kiwis need to reduce our red meat consumption.
Massey University Associate Professor for nutrition and dietetic, Carol Wham, says that the new report is ground breaking.
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"It's a very transformative report. It's the first time really that scientific modelling has looked at food health and sustainable environments."
That report - published in medical journal The Lancet - says we need to adopt a planetary health diet.
With the world's population projected to hit 10 billion by 2050, the report says to feed everyone sustainably.
Europeans and North Americans need to cut back massively on red meat, East Asians needs to cut back on fish and Africans on starchy vegetables.
The report recommends eating 29 grams of chicken, 28 grams of fish, and a fifth of an egg a day. Plus, we should eat around 500 grams of fruit and vegetables.
Professor Wham says it's a reality check for Kiwis to think about eating excessive meat consumption.
If you eat meat every day, the diet recommends eating just 14 grams of red meat a day, a burger a week and a large steak a month.
Auckland butcher Phil Pirie says tastes are changing and people are looking for higher quality meats and more vegetarian products.
But, in moderation, meat has a raft of benefits.
Mr Pirie says it contains protein, zinc, and amino acids, so it is a vital part of the diet.
The Lancet Commission plans to take its findings to governments around the world, and the World Health Organization to see if it can begin to change the way we eat.
Newshub.
