Key Points for Consumers: Protein Action Plan

Consumers need affordable and accessible healthy and sustainable plant-based foods. The European Commission's Protein Action Plan recognises the role of greater EU plant protein production in supporting a more resilient and sustainable food system but doesn't go far enough on human consumption and demand. 

Unhealthy diets are a major risk factor for chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Yet, European food systems still push unhealthy options by being more prominent and cheaper. 

While the Protein Action Plan acknowledges the need for more diversified diets, it lacks the ambition and concrete measures to support a broader transition towards richer plant-based diets. To achieve this goal, policymakers should pay greater attention to consumer demand and ensure that plant-based foods are available and attractive to consumers. Our recommendations focus on the following four key areas: 

• clear objectives for EU plant protein production for human consumption 
• more action on demand-side measures that involve the public sector 
• action on plant-based foods prices 
• widen the scope to avoid focusing solely on crops

For more information, consult our Key Points for Consumers and the Blueprint for an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods.