Sixty-five percent said they would be willing to try a plant-based diet if shown evidence of the health benefits. Despite this significant interest, the survey also found that just one out of five primary care practitioners choose to discuss plant-based diets with their patients.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and Morning Consult carried out the research, which surveyed 2,203 US adults from April 15 to April 16, 2025. Just one percent of US adults are currently vegan.

“What’s missing […] is support and guidance from health care professionals,” said Xavier Toledo, a PCRM-affiliated registered dietitian. “This represents a huge missed opportunity to turn interest into action – and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases that affect millions.”

Read more: Want To Live To 100? Here’s What The Blue Zones Are Doing Right

Plant-based diets, preventative medicine, and healthcare

The new survey follows several recent studies on the potential of plant-based diets to reduce chronic disease risk, promote health, and save money for healthcare providers.

A study by Dr Shireem Kassam and Dr Laura Jane Smith of Plant Based Health Professionals UK highlighted the potential of plant-based diets to tackle the “intertwined crises” of health, inequality, and climate change. However, they also noted that nutrition education in healthcare is falling short when it comes to plant-based foods and lifestyles.

In November, another study found that three-quarters of UK dieticians incorrectly believe that plant-based proteins are incomplete. In the US, PCRM offers plant-based dietary information to medical and nursing students who wish to learn about meat-free health and nutrition.

Read more: Study Finds No Difference In Muscle Fiber Protein Synthesis Between Vegan And Omnivore Diets

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

In March, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) asked 2,203 US adults how strongly they would consider eating a plant-based diet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Sixteen percent of those surveyed said that they would “strongly” consider it, while an additional 30 percent said that they would “somewhat” consider it.

The current food system is deeply inefficient and animal agriculture is a key driver of emissions. Estimates for how much it contributes to global heating vary, but it’s generally understood to be responsible for at least 16.5 percent of total emissions. A study published earlier this year found that farming animals was the leading cause of the climate crisis, responsible for around 53 percent of global average temperature rise between 1750 and 2020.

PCRM noted that 54 percent of those surveyed were unaware of which foods contribute the most emissions. However, when prompted to rank foods based on their output of emissions, 54 percent correctly said that beef was the highest-emitting. Beef creates 70kg of GHGs per 1kg of protein, and is linked with deforestation, land disputes, and human rights violations.

Read more: Meat Industry Drove Backlash To Landmark EAT-Lancet Food Study, Report Finds

‘People should eat a plant-based diet’

PCRM’s survey found that 40 percent of respondents agreed or somewhat agreed that the US government should tax the meat and dairy industry for its excess GHG emissions. Fifty-nine percent also strongly or somewhat agreed that the government should incentivize farmers moving away from animal farming and towards environmentally beneficial crops.

PCRM published the new survey results ahead of Earth Day on April 22, and described adopting a plant-based diet as a “win-win” for both personal and planetary health. PCRM-affiliated medical doctor Roxanne Becker said, “This Earth Day – and every day – people should eat a plant-based diet to keep themselves and the planet healthy.”

Earlier this month, a new scientific journal entry by two UK-based plant-based healthcare professionals highlighted the potential for plant-based diets to tackle the “intertwined crises” of poor health, biodiversity loss, social injustice, and the climate crisis.

Read more: Animal Ag, Not Fossil Fuels, Is The Leading Cause Of Climate Change, Says New Study

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and Morning Consult conducted a survey of 2,203 US adults in January 2025. When asked if it was important to eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or other animal products to get enough protein, 87 percent of respondents agreed, while half strongly agreed. Republicans and people with Bachelor’s degrees were more likely to agree than women, Gen Z, or Democrats.

But when asked if a plant-based diet has complete protein and can easily provide the protein a person needs, 52 percent agreed. Black people, Millennials, and people who live in the western part of the US were more likely to agree with the correct notion that plant-based diets can provide good protein. A full third disagreed with the statement.

Read more: What Plant-Based Foods Are ‘Complete’ Protein Sources?

More than half of respondents also agreed that it’s possible to build muscle on a plant-based diet. Twenty-two percent didn’t believe it was possible, while 21 percent didn’t know.

The power of plant protein

“Plant protein has been shown in randomized controlled trials to be as effective as animal protein for building muscle when the amounts of protein are equal,” Dr. Roxanne Becker from PCRM said in a statement. “And it and it is full of nutrients and fiber unlike animal-based protein sources.”

One meta-analysis of 13 clinical trials involving older adults found that plant protein matched animal protein for maintaining and building strength and lean muscle mass.  Men on a strength-training program who ate either a vegan diet or an omnivorous diet showed no differences in strength or muscle mass gains over 12 weeks, according to another study.

The lack of awareness around plants as an adequate source of protein is not just a rife among the public. A recent study of UK dietitians found that most are willing to recommend plant-based diets to patients, but 75 percent incorrectly believe that plant protein is “incomplete.” Plant-based physician Dr Neal Bernard has argued that it’s a myth that plants lack some essential amino acids. Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, he said, “Although the consumption of a variety of plant foods ensures better nutrition overall, all plants contain all indispensable amino acids.”

Read more: 8 High Protein Tofu Curry Recipes

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Read more: What Plant-Based Foods Are ‘Complete’ Protein Sources?

The renowned plant-based physician was responding to a study that stated: “plant proteins are usually deficient in 1 or more indispensable amino acids.”

Addressing this claim, Dr Barnard wrote: “Although the consumption of a variety of plant foods ensures better nutrition overall, all plants contain all indispensable amino acids.”

Read more: 4 Protein-Packed Edamame Recipes

Getting protein on a plant-based diet

The authors of the review that Dr. Barnard criticized responded in a letter in the same journal issue. They said they agreed with him “regarding the importance of plant-based diets” which are scientifically “recognized” for their effectiveness in reducing chronic illnesses and environmental harms.

However, they added that “Plant proteins in general are less digestible than animal proteins and have a lower essential amino-acid content.” They said these “limitations” could be “overcome by ingesting larger amounts of plant protein, fortifying foods with essential amino acids, and selecting a variety of plant food sources that have complementary amino-acid distributions.”

It’s true that many plant proteins do contain differing amounts of amino acids, and combining different plant foods is a great way to ensure adequate intake. Foods containing all nine essential amino acids in consistent amounts are often called “complete” proteins. Some people believe that animal proteins alone are complete, but there are a number of plant-based sources of complete proteins, including tofu and quinoa. According to a 2019 study in the journal Nutrients, “the question of any amino acid deficiency [in vegan/vegetarian diets] has been substantially overstated.”

Read more: A 50% Market Share For Alt Proteins Could Reduce GHGs More Than EVs, Says Report

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Experts from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) have issued the court order.

USDA Dietary Guidelines

It urges the USDA to retract three sections of its 2020-2025 dietary guidelines:

1. Delete dairy promotions, since dairy products increase cancer risk, while nondairy calcium sources help prevent cancer. 
2. Avoid equating “protein” with meat, as there are abundant sources of protein, such as beans, peas, and lentils, without meat’s fat and cholesterol. 
3. Eliminate deceptive language hiding the ill effects of consuming meat and dairy products. 

Dietary racism

PCRM has long critiqued the guidelines, calling them out for ‘dietary racism’. This is because lactose intolerance is prevalent among people of color. 

Lactose intolerance can cause issues such as diarrhea, pain, and digestive problems. It affects 95 percent of Asians, 60 – 80 percent of African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews, 80-100 percent of American Indians, and 50 – 80 percent of Hispanic Americans.

Moreover, PCRM member Dr. Forrester is a family practice physician from Sacramento. She said: “One charter of the USDA, to market agricultural goods, including meat and dairy products, is in direct conflict with the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act.

“[This] requires the Dietary Guidelines ‘include nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for the general public’ based on ‘the preponderance of the scientific and medical knowledge which is current at the time the report is prepared…

“The USDA’s conflict of interest is perhaps best illustrated in its statement that ‘[m]ost individuals would benefit by increasing intake of dairy,’ even though there is no convincing evidence that this is true.”

PCRM added: “The Dietary Guidelines are not inconsequential. They have tangible implications for everyday Americans. 

“The US government uses the Dietary Guidelines as the basis for its food assistance meal programs, nutrition education efforts. And, decisions about national health objectives.”

This article was written by Liam Gilliver on the PBN Website.

Members from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) demonstrated outside the National Mall last week.

‘Beans Not Beef’

Vanita Rahman, MD, Lee Crosby, RD, LD, and Zeeshan Ali, PhD, led the campaign, which saw experts holding signs stating: “Beans Not Beef.”

The same slogan was also spelled out on the floor, made from bags of beans. All food used in the demonstration was later donated.

According to PCRM, swapping beef for beans could help the US reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. It cites a study that says the plant-based swap could account for 46-74 percent of the US’ 2020 reduction goals.

Promote plant-based diets

PCRM recently petitioned the White House to promote plant-based diets in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It also requested a ‘strategy to shift subsidies for meat and dairy products to fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans’.

Susan Levin, MS, RD, CSSD is the director of nutrition education for the Physicians Committee. She wrote to the USDA: “While we’re pleased that the Biden administration has already taken initial steps in this important area… The role of dietary contributors to climate change remains neglected.

“A report published in The Lancet in 2019 concluded that a dietary shift toward plant foods and away from animal products is vital for promoting the health of our planet.”

You can read the full letter here

This article was written by Liam Gilliver on the PBN Website.

New Jersey-based physician Saray Stancic, MD, spearheaded a campaign against the fast-food chain, after partnering with the Physicians Committee (PCRM).

The non-profit features more than 12,000 doctor members, including 495 in New Jersey. It promotes a plant-based diet, preventive medicine, and alternatives to animal research.

Burger King

Back in 2019, Dr. Stancic and other health professionals confronted Burger King and got the attention of the Hospital’s incoming CEO, Dr. Elnehal.

A petition calling for the eatery to comply with the Healthy Food Options in Health Care Facilities policy – which encourages hospital patients, staff, and visitors to have access to a ‘variety of healthy food’ – garnered more than 3,150 signatures. 

In 2017, Dr. Stancic and the Physicians Committee obtained Burger King’s contract with the hospital – discovering the contract expires in 2021.

PCRM says: “Although there was internal dissent, the hospital ultimately chose to end its relationship with the fast-food chain rather than create a new contract or go to month-to-month rental as allowed by the original contract.”

‘The departure of greasy fast food’

Celebrating the victory, Dr. Stancic said: “The departure of greasy fast food from University Hospital is a win for visitors, patients, and staff.

“Several life-threatening conditions are linked to high-fat fare like bacon cheeseburgers. 

“The hospital should provide tasty, plant-based options that can speed recovery as well as prevent and even reverse diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.”

You can find out more about PCRM here

This article was written by Liam Gilliver on the PBN Website.

Hayek Hospital is a family-owned private practice located in Beirut, Lebanon. On March 1, it altered its menu to exclusively feature plant-based foods.

Vegan hospital

The hospital revealed the news on Instagram. It uploaded a picture stating: “Our patients will no longer wake up from surgery to be greeted with ham, cheese, milk, and eggs. The very foods that may have contributed to their health problems in the first place.”

Hayek captioned the post: “There’s an elephant in the room that no one wants to see.

“The World Health Organization classifies processed meat as a group 1A carcinogenic – [the] same group as tobacco – and red meat as a group 2A carcinogenic. So, serving meat in a hospital is like serving cigarettes in a hospital.

“The CDC declared that three out of four new or emerging infectious diseases come from animals.

“Adopting a plant-based diet has been scientifically proven not only to stop the evolution of certain diseases but it can also reverse them.

“We have the moral responsibility to act upon and align our beliefs with our actions. Taking the courage to look at the elephant in the eye.”

Should hospitals serve processed meat?

Last year, a survey showed a staggering 83 percent of patients favor hospitals banning processed meat to ‘reduce cancer risk’.

The data came from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) who surveyed 200 patients in two Washington D.C hospitals.

It also found that 69 percent of patients feel it is ‘not important’ that hospitals offer bacon or sausage.

Dr. Neal Barnard is the President of PCRM. He said: “Now it’s clear that patients overwhelmingly agree that they’d like to see healthy food on their hospital trays.

“It’s not uncommon for patients to wake up from surgery to be greeted with bacon and sausage. [These are] the very foods that may have contributed to their health problems in the first place. It’s time to create a healthier food environment.”

This article was written by Liam Gilliver on the PBN Website.

Doctors are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ditch dairy from its MyPlate nutritional recommendations.

MyPlate is an illustration that is promoted by grocery retailers, health professional associations, restaurant chains, and food manufacturers.

It divides a serving plate into three common food groups – vegetables, fruits, and grains – and one nutrient category – protein. Accompanying the serving plate is a smaller adjacent circle representing a dairy group.

Dairy-related health conditions

But according to nonprofit organization the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the USDA ‘should make MyPlate dairy-free to help protect Americans from cancer, heart disease, lactose intolerance, and other dairy-related health conditions’.

The organization says: “Scientific evidence shows that dairy products offer little if any protection for bone health and increase the risk of asthma, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers, cognitive decline, heart disease, and early death.”

It adds that the American Medical Association passed a resolution in July 2018, calling on the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services to ‘recognize that lactose intolerance is common among many Americans, especially African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans, and to clearly indicate in federal nutrition guidelines that dairy products are optional’.

MyPlate

According to PCRM, MyPlate is ‘strikingly similar’ to the Physicians Committee’s Power Plate which the organization presented to the USDA in 2010. In January 2011, the Physicians Committee brought the Power Plate to the White House, preceding the USDA’s launch of its MyPlate in June of that year.

Susan Levin, MS, RD, CSSD, director of nutrition education for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said: “MyPlate is clearly inspired by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Power Plate, which features fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes – but no dairy.

“It’s time for MyPlate to ditch the dairy, too.”

Dairy alternatives

Offering alternatives to dairy, PCRM suggests numerous alternative foods which include calcium, including beans, leafy green vegetables, tofu, breads, and cereals.

For potassium, it recommends oranges, bananas, potatoes, and other fruits, vegetables, and beans. Magnesium is found in legumes and green leafy vegetables, and vitamin D can be sourced from sunlight, and fortified cereals, grains, bread, orange juice, and plant milks.

PCRM has launched a petition urging Americans to tell the USDA to make MyPlate dairy-free

This article was written by Plant Based News on the PBN Website.