South Africa’s Dietary Guidelines Need an Update to Meet Health and Climate Goals, New Policy Brief Says
Experts, health leaders, and policymakers will gather for a high-level virtual convening to discuss the future of South Africa’s food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs).
South Africa’s FBDGs, the national recommendations that shape nutrition education, health messaging and public food and nutrition programmes, are due for an update to better respond to the country’s changing health, nutrition and environmental realities, according to a new policy brief launched by the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) South Africa.
The policy brief, South Africa’s food-based dietary guidelines are due for an update: recommendations to meet health and climate goals, will officially be launched during a high-level virtual convening on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, at 17:00 SAST. The event will bring together representatives from national and provincial government departments, experts from public health and nutrition, academia, and civil society organisations working across nutrition, health, and sustainable food systems.
The brief builds on the findings of the peer-reviewed study reviewing dietary guidelines across Africa, Food-based dietary guidelines in Africa and their inclusivity of plant-based dietary patterns, published in the South African Journal of Science in 2025. The study found that while progress has been made across the continent, only 12 African countries currently have official dietary guidelines, and just three (Zambia, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia) had integrated sustainability considerations into their recommendations by 2024. This means that only one quarter of African FAO member countries currently have official dietary guidelines, highlighting a significant opportunity across the continent to strengthen national nutrition guidance and integrate sustainability considerations into future recommendations. The findings also represent progress from 2022, when only seven African countries had official dietary guidelines, and none included sustainability concepts.
The new policy brief argues that updating South Africa’s guidelines presents an opportunity to strengthen national efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
Physicians Association for Nutrition South Africa | Cape Town, South Africa | Website: www.pan-sa.org | Contact: info@pan-sa.org |
● SDG 2: Zero Hunger
● SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
● SDG 13: Climate Action
As 2030 approaches, progress towards these global targets remains off track.
South Africa faces a growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. According to the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) National Food and Nutrition Security Survey, nearly half of South African adults are overweight or living with obesity, around 7.2% are living with diabetes, and almost one in three adults has hypertension. These rising rates of NCDs are contributing to increasing healthcare costs and underscore the importance of evidence-based approaches to promoting healthier diets and preventing disease. At the same time, food systems are increasingly recognised as both contributors to and victims of climate change.
The policy brief highlights mounting scientific evidence that dietary diversification, including increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, improves health outcomes while reducing environmental pressures such as greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption.
“Food-based dietary guidelines are among the most influential public health policy tools developed by governments to guide healthy diets. They shape how we educate healthcare professionals, design school feeding programmes and communicate healthy eating to millions of people,” said Dr Nanine Wyma, lead author of the policy brief and Chairperson of the PAN South Africa Board.
“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.”
The policy brief recommends that South Africa’s next revision of the guidelines:
● Maintain guidance on food sources of critical nutrients, including protein, iron, calcium, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids, and continue to provide advice on vitamin B12 supplementation where appropriate.
Physicians Association for Nutrition South Africa | Cape Town, South Africa | Website: www.pan-sa.org | Contact: info@pan-sa.org |
● Retain evidence-based information on the health benefits of vegetarian dietary patterns, including their association with lower risks of certain NCDs and the recommendation to include at least one meat-free day per week.
● Create more inclusive food groups by incorporating a wider range of protein sources and ensuring the guidelines accommodate diverse dietary preferences, cultural practices, and socioeconomic circumstances.
● Strengthen transparency and address potential conflicts of interest in guideline development, while ensuring balanced information on nutrient sources, food intolerances, and suitable dietary alternatives.
● Provide more comprehensive guidance on environmental sustainability, including the environmental impacts of food choices and the role of dietary patterns in supporting both human and planetary health.
● Include practical guidance on healthy dietary alternatives and emerging food products, helping consumers make informed choices and identify nutritious alternatives that support diverse dietary needs and preferences.
The recommendations are informed by global evidence, including the EAT-Lancet Commission’s Planetary Health Diet, which promotes diets rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds while moderating the intake of animal-source foods. The virtual convening will feature insights from Sumati Bajaj, a Nutrition Knowledge Specialist at PAN International who contributed to the EAT-Lancet Commission’s work and will share global perspectives on healthy and sustainable diets.
The launch webinar will feature opening remarks and keynote address by:
● Dr. Heinrich Volmink, Chief Executive Officer of PAN South Africa and former Member of Parliament; and
● Dr. Joan Matji, Global Director: Child Nutrition and Development, UNICEF.
Dr. Nanine Wyma will present the policy brief, followed by a panel discussion featuring:
● Sumati Bajaj, Nutrition Knowledge Specialist, PAN International and EAT-Lancet Commission Contributor.
● Prof. Ashika Naicker, Associate Professor and Head of Department: Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology.
● Maria van der Merwe, President, Association for Dietetics in South Africa.
● Jody Frank, Specialised Environmental Officer: Climate Change, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape Government.
Physicians Association for Nutrition South Africa | Cape Town, South Africa | Website: www.pan-sa.org | Contact: info@pan-sa.org |
● Paula Knipe, Lawyer: Food Systems Reform Programme, Animal Law Reform South Africa.
The webinar will provide a platform for government departments, health professionals, researchers, civil society organisations and members of the public to explore how South Africa’s dietary guidelines can promote healthier diets, improve public health and support a more sustainable future for all South Africans.
In addition to the policy brief launch, PAN South Africa is inviting individuals and organisations to support a new public petition calling for the review and updating of South Africa’s FBDGs to ensure they reflect the latest evidence on healthy diets from sustainable and just food systems.
“Updating dietary guidelines is not only a nutrition issue; it is an opportunity to improve public health, prevent diet-related morbidity and mortality, strengthen food system resilience, and ensure future generations have access to healthy and sustainable diets,” said Dr Heinrich Volmink.
Webinar Details
Event: Policy Brief Launch – South Africa’s food-based dietary guidelines are due for an update: recommendations to meet health and climate goals.
Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2026 Time: 17:00-190:00 SAST Format: Online webinar
Media and public registration: https://bit.ly/3R28Dh5
Sign the petition: https://bit.ly/4xMqVUb
