The Dutch health council Gezondheidsraad has published new guidelines for eating protein which include less meat and more pulses than in previous editions.

The report states that an adult should eat no more than 200 grammes of red meat – beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat and horse – a week, but should eat 250 grammes of pulses as an alternative protein.

To ensure people consume enough protein, the council recommends eating more wholegrain bread, pasta and rice, as well as eggs and chicken. It also recommends a handful – 15 to 30 grammes – of unsalted nuts a day.

In terms of fish, the council says people should eat no more than 100 grammes of sustainably caught or farmed fish, to prevent over-fishing and environmental damage.

Healthy eating advisory group Voedingscentrum will translate the new recommendations into official guidelines for a healthy eating pattern in March 2026, according to the needs of different population groups. The last version of the guidelines dates from 2015.

The aim of the guidelines is to cut back on chronic illnesses such as heart and artery disease, diabetes and cancer, but this year, for the first time, the environmental aspect of diet is also taken into account.

“This is in the interests of current and future generations, who must also be able to access enough healthy, safe food,” the health council said.

The council will publish new guidelines on dairy, fruit and vegetable consumption at a later date.