Policy Brief: South Africa’s food-based dietary guidelines are due for an update: recommendations to meet health and climate goals

South Africa’s Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) were last updated in 2012 and no longer fully reflect current dietary consumption patterns and public health priorities.

South Africa is facing a growing nutrition and health crisis, characterised by the triple burden of malnutrition, including under- and over nutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. These challenges are compounded by the nutrition transition, structural inequalities, climate change, weakened food systems and increasing food insecurity. Integrating evidence-based recommendations for healthy diets from sustainable and just food systems can help address these interconnected challenges.

The Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) South Africa has developed a policy brief calling for the revision of South Africa’s FBDGs. This revision is necessary to better align national dietary guidance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 13 (climate action).