Launch of the review series: True Cost Assessment Methods for Quantifying the Multi-Dimensional Impacts of Food

The reviews map the existing research landscape on approaches for assessing the external costs and benefits of foods and diets, encompassing health, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions - as a first step of a larger envisioned project titled ‘the True Cost & True Price of Food Baskets’, for which we are seeking funding.

Drawing insights from over 𝟮𝟬𝟬 studies, the review series reveals a research landscape dominated by high-income countries and negative externalities across the board. From significant health costs driven by diet-related diseases and alcohol-associated harms, to a heavy focus on greenhouse gas emissions from meat and dairy, and pervasive socioeconomic inequalities like inadequate working conditions and unfair pay, these hidden impacts are substantial but not reflected in market prices.

This review series reveals that while TCA and True Pricing of food system externalities are rapidly gaining traction, current methods remain fragmented, lack transparency, and are heavily skewed toward high-income countries. The stakes are enormous: without more robust, standardised tools and geographically representative data, decision-makers risk underestimating the true scale of food-related impacts, which are already valued at over USD 11 trillion annually.

This landmark work clearly identifies where evidence is strongest (e.g., health costs of alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption), where gaps persist (e.g., monetisation of micronutrient deficiencies, valuation of environmental impacts other than GHG emissions), and what future research must address to make TCA a reliable, actionable, and equitable tool for system transformation. By making these hidden impacts visible, we can ensure that the true value of food drives informed decisions by all food system actors.

Access the health review pre-print, submitted to Nature Food, and learn more about the overall results and recommendations from the reviews on the webpage.

Get in touch to learn more about the reviews - or our envisioned wider project!