Physicians say South Africa’s 2012 dietary guidelines need updating to reflect new science and sustainability

The Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) South Africa says the country’s dietary guidelines unchanged since 2012 should be revised to reflect advances in nutrition science, the growing burden of lifestyle diseases and the environmental impacts of food systems.

Build on existing guidance, PAN says

In a new policy brief, PAN recommends broadening advice on protein sources, strengthening guidance on environmental sustainability, improving transparency during guideline development and helping consumers understand the expanding range of plant-based alternatives now available in supermarkets.

“South Africa already has one of the most comprehensive dietary guidelines in Africa. This policy brief is not about replacing what exists, but about building on its strengths and ensuring that our recommendations remain evidence-based, inclusive and fit for the future,”

said Dr Nanine Wyma, managing director of PAN International and lead author of the policy brief.

Specific changes proposed

PAN’s suggested updates include:

• Retaining advice on obtaining essential nutrients;
• Continuing to recommend at least one meat-free meal a week;
• Grouping plant and animal proteins together;
• Providing clearer guidance for people with food intolerances;
• Including more information on the environmental impact of dietary choices.

Guidelines influence more than individual diets

“Dietary guidelines affect far more than individual eating habits because they informed school feeding schemes, health care training and broader public nutrition policy,”

the policy brief says, according to PAN SA chief operating officer Dr Heinrich Volmink.

“These are not separate crises. They meet in the same communities, in the same households and, sometimes, the same individual,”

Dr Volmink added, describing how multiple forms of malnutrition intersect.

Implementation and affordability concerns

Association for Dietetics in South Africa president Maria van der Merwe said the existing guidelines rest on a strong scientific foundation but that implementation is the country’s biggest weakness. She noted she had

“never met a member of the public who’s ever heard of the dietary guidelines.”

Durban University of Technology professor Ashika Naicker warned that affordability must remain central to revisions, pointing out that many commercially available plant-based products are priced beyond the reach of ordinary consumers.

Linking nutrition and climate policy

Western Cape Government climate change expert Jody Frank said the revision presented an opportunity to connect nutrition policy with climate policy.

“It can become much more than a health document,”

he said, adding that the guidelines could serve as a practical tool for building healthier people and more sustainable food systems, and ultimately a more resilient South Africa.