The launch of the latest EAT-Lancet Commission report has the potential to mark a turning point in how we think, talk, and act on the future of food. At FoodFacts, we see this as more than another publication: it’s a blueprint for meaningful change, one that echoes our values of clarity, justice, and accountability in the food system. It’s the result of the global scientific community coming together to produce a practical, evidence-based roadmap for change.

Beyond false choice and towards equal opportunities

On social media, health advice often sounds empowering. Narratives promise that you can “take control” of your health through individual choices. But as the launch of this report highlighted today, 5.6 billion people live in environments where healthy choices are limited, difficult, or even impossible. When food systems are built around profit rather than people, “choice” becomes an illusion.

The report reframes this reality. It argues that transformation is needed so that everyone can access healthy food. To quote one speaker at the report’s launch :

“A just food system is the goal. And the way to get there.” Dr. Gunhild A. Stordalen, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of the EAT Foundation.

Science for people

Unlike systems shaped by commercial interests, this report is first and foremost about people, and for people. It offers science designed to serve everyone, adapting to every context. The focus on justice is a new component of this latest report, one that shapes its intended impact. 

Why words matter

The launch began with a reminder about the power of words:

“The future of our society, indeed the future of our species, depends upon the words that we choose to use with one another.” Dr. Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet

This resonates deeply with our work at FoodFacts. Our mission is to fight misinformation about food. Why? Because food affects everybody. The word ‘misinformation’ itself can lead us to think it’s only about inaccurate facts. But it’s primarily an issue of miscommunication that shapes the way we think about food and food choices, and it remains one of the biggest barriers to change. How we frame nutrition science influences trust, behaviour, and ultimately policy.

The three words that stood out from the launching of this report were choice, freedom, and of course, justice. 

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A pie chart representing the recommendations of the Eat Lancet Planetary Health Diet
Courtesy: The Lancet

The Planetary Health Diet – not one size fits all

Central to the report is the Planetary Health Diet. Far from being prescriptive, it is adaptable to cultural and dietary preferences. In fact, it mirrors many traditional diets, including the Mediterranean pattern. Research shows that a global shift towards this diet could prevent 27% of premature deaths every year, and even small steps bring measurable benefits.

Crucially, this is not about dictating what individuals eat. It’s about reshaping food environments so people can make informed, healthy, and sustainable choices, something which is also at the core of our mission at FoodFacts.

Answering public concerns

On social media, concerns about being “poisoned by the food system” are prevalent. These anxieties are not always unfounded: profit often drives decisions that can undermine health. In line with this public concern, the updated report emphasises that “people deserve to live in non-toxic environments.” This is just one example highlighting how people’s concerns and the need for justice underscore the transformations promoted in this report.  

A collective imperative

The launch also made one thing clear:

“Words alone won’t feed anyone.” Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations

Systemic change requires action at local, national, and global levels. Solutions will differ across contexts, but the imperative is the same: a just food system that serves people and the planet.

At FoodFacts, our mission is to tackle misinformation as part of this transformation. But every one of us can take an important step today: engage. Read the report, join the conversation, and demand accountability.

Because, as the Commission reminds us:

“We all have a lot at stake – a lot to gain, and a lot to say.” Dr. Gunhild A. Stordalen, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of the EAT Foundation.