Can the Mediterranean diet be exported?
According to ANSES scientist Mariette Gerber, yes it can – and there are concrete examples too.
“Finland is our great success story in terms of public health. Through a thorough education programme they have succeeded in reducing animal fat consumption - reducing cardiovascular diseases and colorectal cancer in the process,” she said.
Better still, the Mediterranean diet can be sustainably followed around the world by buying produce that is grown locally.
“Tourists who came to visit Europe in summer brought back this idea that the Mediterranean diet meant tomatoes, aubergines and courgettes all year round, but that is not the case.
"It is simply seasonal produce and that also includes cabbages, cauliflower, turnips and leeks in winter,” said Gerber.
So smaller waistbands won't mean environmental wastelands - good news all round.
