Cut Junk Food for Health and Planet, Finnish Study Finds

Wondering how to make your diet healthier and more sustainable? New research from Finland suggests the answer might be simpler than you think: cut back on junk food.

A groundbreaking study tracking nearly 30,000 grocery shoppers found that discretionary foods like candy, chips, sodas, and sweet baked goods account for roughly one-fifth of both household food spending and climate impact. That's true whether people prefer eating meat, fish, or plant-based proteins.

Researchers from the University of Helsinki, Tampere University, and Natural Resources Institute Finland analyzed real shopping data from Finnish co-op members. They compared households favoring different protein sources and discovered something surprising.

"The discussion on reducing the carbon footprint should also encompass discretionary foods alongside foods derived from animals," says University Researcher Jelena Meinilä. The findings challenge the common assumption that switching protein sources alone is the key to sustainable eating.

The study revealed that junk food contributed more than one-fifth of average climate impact, plus significant effects on water quality and land use. While individual snack items might seem environmentally insignificant, their combined effect adds up considerably.

Even better news: the research demolished another common myth about healthy eating. Households that preferred fish and plant proteins spent virtually the same amount on protein as red meat lovers. Those favoring plants spent €1.5 per 2,500 calories on protein, compared to €1.6 for red meat fans.

"This suggests that a health-promoting and environmentally friendly transition towards fish and plants as protein sources is not primarily about price," Meinilä explains. The cost barrier many people fear simply doesn't exist in practice.

Plant-focused shoppers bought food with more fiber, folate, and iron, plus less saturated fat and salt. Fish lovers showed the highest vitamin B12 and D levels, supporting the case for sustainable seafood in healthy diets.

The Ripple Effect

This research offers something rare: a climate solution that simultaneously improves personal health. Cutting back on nutritionally empty foods addresses nearly 20% of dietary energy and 60% of added sugar in typical purchases.

The researchers emphasize that individual choices alone won't solve the problem. Stores need to make healthy, sustainable options easier through better product selection, strategic placement, and smart pricing. The new Nordic and Finnish nutrition recommendations provide a roadmap for this transformation.

The findings echo similar studies from Australia and Sweden, suggesting this pattern extends beyond Finland. That means the solution could work globally, offering hope for millions seeking practical ways to eat better and lighten their environmental footprint at the same time.