The meat of a plant-based diet

Nutrition and public policy expert Marion Nestle answers readers' questions in this column written exclusively for The Chronicle.

The United Nations says, "A global shift toward a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change."

The U.N. report notes that animal agriculture contributes to climate change, but says nothing about dietary advice or vegan diets.

Kaiser Permanente urges physicians to advocate "eating healthy, whole, plant-based foods (primarily fruits and vegetables) and minimizing consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products."

GM wheat is not approved for planting anywhere, and it's been nine years since Monsanto grew its last test plots.

Were they mixed with conventional seeds by mistake?

Several countries have refused to accept shipments of American wheat unless it can be certified GM-free.

[...] the Food and Drug Administration still has not issued final safety regulations

Lobbyists, advocates and some congressional staff may know parts of it thoroughly, but the whole thing?

Anyone can figure out what agricultural policy ought to do: promote production of adequate food at an affordable price, provide a decent living for farmers and farmworkers, protect the environment and promote health, for starters, but this is a large order for any piece of legislation and impossible for our current Congress.

The House failed to pass it, mainly because Republicans thought cuts to SNAP, food stamps, weren't deep enough and Democrats were appalled by the size of the cuts and by new requirements for drug testing and work.

Whether they make people worse is arguable, but study after study shows that nutrient supplements do not make healthy people healthier.