Food that's healthier for people and planet can be cheaper, too
News briefs
- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
If you're trying to make more environmentally friendly food choices, you might expect to pay more at the supermarket. But a study published in the November 2025 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that on the contrary, foods with lower environmental footprints generally cost less.
Researchers used global price data to compare retail prices for 860 commonly sold foods in 181 countries, then matched them with their nutritional profiles as well as estimates of their carbon footprint (greenhouse gases generated by producing them) and water footprint (water used to produce them).
The scientists found that in general, the most expensive foods tended to have the largest environmental footprints - especially animal-based foods like meat and dairy products, whose production typically requires more resources and generates more greenhouse gases. But no such relationship was found with nutritional scores: within the same food categories, healthier choices were not necessarily more expensive than less healthy ones.
The bottom line: Sustainable eating can be surprisingly affordable - and eating more healthfully can be too, but not always. Be sure to shop around to find the most nutritious options for the money.
Image: © Dragos Condrea/Getty Images
About the Author
Joyce Hendley, Staff Writer
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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