Nutrition experts criticise whole-food plant-based diet prescribed in South Savo

Finnish nutrition experts have strongly criticised a whole-food plant-based diet that two doctors in the South Savo wellbeing services county Eloisa have been recommending to patients, warning that the restrictive regimen risks malnutrition.

Cardiovascular health organisation Sydänliitto’s secretary general Marjaana Lahti-Koski said in a Yle television interview on Wednesday that the diet is unnecessarily restrictive and potentially deficient.

“The use of margarines and oils is important for the intake of essential fatty acids. A restrictive diet, especially for the elderly, increases the risk of malnutrition,” Lahti-Koski said.

The whole-food plant-based diet ideally excludes animal products, processed plant-based foods, added fats, sugar, and salt.

Yle reported on Wednesday that two doctors at the Eloisa wellbeing services county had been guiding patients toward a whole-food plant-based diet that does not comply with national nutrition and clinical care guidelines.

The wellbeing services county leadership banned guidance toward the whole-food plant-based diet in spring 2025. According to Yle’s information, one of the doctors has continued advising patients despite the ban. Eloisa has announced it will launch an internal investigation into the matter.

University of Helsinki nutrition science professor Maijaliisa Erkkola said on Yle’s Aamu programme on Thursday that official nutrition recommendations are an important tool for healthcare professionals.

“Using them is part of professional competence,” Erkkola said.

She acknowledged that following the recommendations can be challenging if a practitioner’s personal attitude differs from them.

“Professionalism means staying in line,” Erkkola said.

According to Yle’s extensive investigation, the whole-food plant-based diet is a central component of lifestyle medicine, an unofficial medical discipline in Finland.

Tampere University health sociology professor Piia Jallinoja noted on Yle’s Aamu programme that people requiring lifestyle guidance due to illness are in a vulnerable position.

“Then you would hope that the diet contains nothing deviating, surprising, or unusual,” Jallinoja said.

She reminded that food is not just nutrition for people but is linked to social situations and provides pleasure and joy.

“If salt, sugar, and fats are banned, it may be difficult to make food tasty, in which case the diet may not be followed,” Jallinoja said.

Erkkola emphasised that due to social media, it has become increasingly difficult for experts to make their voices heard.

“Diets are often based on an individual’s own experiences. Before you can recommend it to others, there must be sufficient evidence that it is nutritionally adequate,” she said.

Tags: nutrition, South Savo, health care