EU Parliament Recommends Plant-Based Diet Against Cancer

The European Parliament has called on the EU to promote a plant-based diet and reduce meat consumption in order to combat cancer.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Europe, with 3.7 million new cases and 1.9 million deaths per year — accounting for a quarter of all cancer cases worldwide.

Véronique Trillet-Lenoir from the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) described the strategy as "historic, both in terms of its ambitions and goals and in terms of the resources we will make available.«

„We will finally be able to work together effectively to combat the health inequalities that exist within the European Union and to address the needs of the millions of Europeans affected by this disease", said Trillet-Lenoir.

A New Approach in the Fight Against Cancer

The new strategy shifts the focus from drug testing to preventive research into carcinogenic chemicals, including promoting a balanced, plant-based diet in place of meat, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in sugar, salt, and fat.

Meat and animal products are of great social significance in Europe, with carcinogenic foods such as salami and frankfurters deeply embedded in European culture.

Commenting on the strategy, Dr. Joanna Swabe, Senior Director of Public Affairs at Humane Society International (HSI), said:

„It is encouraging to see the European Parliament acknowledging the risk factors associated with animal products as well as the protective benefits of a more plant-based diet.»

There is growing scientific evidence that consuming meat and dairy products can have harmful effects on human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that processed meat is carcinogenic, that red meat likely increases your risk of colorectal cancer, and that consuming fewer than two slices of bacon per day increases your risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent.

Plant-based diet against cancer

The WHO classifies processed meat (such as ham, bacon, and sausages) as a Group 1 carcinogen, known to cause cancer.

Although colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Europe and a leading cause of cancer deaths, scientists have found that a healthy diet is a preventive measure — with a diet rich in fiber and legumes and low in animal protein and fat offering protection against colorectal cancer.

Research has also found that a plant-based vegan diet reduces cancer-indicative growth hormones by 13% in women and 9% in men.

The new strategy calls on the European Commission and member states to consider a harmonized front-of-pack nutrition label to facilitate informed, healthy, and sustainable choices.