baker-examiningtheenvironmental-2021.pdf (715.43 kB)
Examining the environmental impacts of the dairy and baby food industries: Are first-food systems a crucial missing part of the healthy and sustainable food systems agenda now underway?
journal contribution
posted on 2021-01-01, 00:00 authored by D H Pope, J O Karlsson, Phillip Baker, D McCoyFood systems are increasingly being understood as driving various health and ecological crises and their transformation is recognised as a key opportunity for planetary health. First-food systems represent an underexplored aspect of this transformation. Despite breastfeeding representing the optimal source of infant nutrition, use of commercial milk formula (CMF) is high and growing rapidly. In this review, we examine the impact of CMF use on planetary health, considering in particular its effects on climate change, water use and pollution and the consequences of these effects for human health. Milk is the main ingredient in the production of CMF, making the role of the dairy sector a key area of attention. We find that CMF use has twice the carbon footprint of breastfeeding, while 1 kg of CMF has a blue water footprint of 699 L; CMF has a significant and harmful environmental impact. Facilitation and protection of breastfeeding represents a key part of developing sustainable first-food systems and has huge potential benefits for maternal and child health.
History
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthVolume
18Issue
23Article number
12678Pagination
1 - 15Publisher
MDPILocation
Basel, SwitzerlandPublisher DOI
Link to full text
ISSN
1661-7827eISSN
1660-4601Language
EnglishPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
BIODIVERSITYbreast milkBREAST-MILK SUBSTITUTESCARBON FOOTPRINTclimate changeCLIMATE-CHANGEcommercial milk formulaenvironmentEnvironmental SciencesEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyESCHERICHIA-COLI O157-H7GLOBAL TRENDSGREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONSHEAT-STRESSLife Sciences & BiomedicineMETHANE EMISSIONSMITIGATIONPublic, Environmental & Occupational HealthScience & Technologywater use
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