33 million are malnourished in Europe: plant-based food for special medical purposes may help

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 04. 20. 10:11

Malnutrition affects about 33 million people in Europe. Inadequate nutritional status can slow down healing after operations and injuries, reduce the survival chances of cancer patients, and make it difficult for lung and heart patients and those suffering from neurological diseases to rehabilitate and life prospects, Danone Hungary says in its announcement. Food intended for special medical purposes can be the solution – now also in a plant-based version.

The adverse health effects of malnutrition represent an increased burden at the individual, family and societal levels. More complications, slower recovery, longer hospital stays, reduced self-care ability and poorer quality of life seriously increase the time required and costs of care.

More and more people in Europe are choosing a plant-based diet, approximately one in three follow a flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan diet. Due to changes in dietary habits, more and more patients with disease-related malnutrition (pathological nutritional status, e.g. malnutrition) require plant-based “nutrition” (medical name: food intended for special medical purposes).