Netherlands Nutrition Centre Revises Dietary Guidelines to Reduce Meat and Cheese Consumption
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre has updated its national dietary guidelines, advocating for reduced consumption of meat and cheese while increasing the intake of legumes. The revised 'wheel of five' was presented on April 9, 2026, and is based on recent scientific insights. The guidelines aim to optimize eating patterns according to age, gender, and food preferences. Key changes include increasing weekly legume intake for adults aged 18-50 from 120-180 grams to 250 grams, reducing meat intake from a maximum of 500 grams to 300 grams per week, and halving the advised amount of cheese from 40 grams to 20 grams per day. The guidelines also encourage alternating between dairy and fortified dairy alternatives. The Dutch food-industry trade organization FNLI has welcomed these changes, emphasizing the balance between animal- and plant-based options. 
