Household Food and Health Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Establishing a household panel, to develop the evidence-base to determine the requirements needed to transition to healthy diets from sustainable sources (HDSS)
IRAS ID
359556
Contact name
Mary Ward
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Duration of Study in the UK
7 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
By 2030 the United Nations wants changes to how food is produced and consumed, to protect the planet and improve global health. This is a major challenge as we must feed a growing global population while also protecting the planet. In the UK and Ireland, healthy eating guidelines suggest a balanced and varied diet. However, diets that are better for the environment usually focus more on plant-based foods and less on meat and processed foods. One well-known example is the Planetary Health Diet, which has been shown to improve health and lower environmental impact. The challenge is that cutting back too much on meat and animal products could make it harder to get some important nutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron, and calcium in our diet.
Other countries have conducted large studies to collect detailed information about what people eat and how it affects their health and the planet. There’s growing interest in doing something similar across the Island of Ireland, but we still don’t know enough about what a truly healthy and sustainable diet looks like—or how many people are actually eating that way. The UK and Ireland urgently need to rethink how food is produced and consumed. However, there’s no clear plan yet, and any changes must be realistic and practical for everyday people—they need to be healthy, affordable, easy to find, and acceptable.
To address this gap, a Household Panel will be established across the Island of Ireland as part of the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems. This project will collect detailed information from households to better understand eating habits, shopping behaviours, health outcomes, and attitudes toward sustainable diets. The goal is to create useful data that helps guide public policies and supports the population in making the shift to healthier and more planet-friendly diets.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
25/NI/0149
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion