Southern Savonia health authority investigates strict vegan diet recommendations

The wellbeing services county of Southern Savonia, known as Eloisa, has started an internal investigation into the recommendation of a strict whole-food plant-based diet for patients. Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported on Wednesday that two physicians within the county’s healthcare system had advised patients to follow a vegan diet that deviates from official treatment guidelines, and whose health effects have not been sufficiently studied.

Patients with conditions such as diabetes and obesity were told to eat only plant-based foods and to avoid processed plant-based products as well. According to a statement from Eloisa, the Yle article contained information that was not fully known to the authority. The county said that patient safety does not appear to have been compromised based on information currently available.