Australians’ love for red meat, chocolate, and coffee came at a high environmental cost, as they were often the products that generated the highest rates of greenhouse gas emissions.

The highest country’s packaged food supply said in a report on Wednesday.

The report published by the George Institute for Global Health said the study assessed over 25,000 food and beverage products from major Australian retailers.

They found these popular grocery staples among the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Using the newly developed Planetary Health Rating system, the study gave Australia’s overall packaged food supply an average of 2.5 out of five stars for environmental impact.

The report said red meat scored the lowest at 0.7 stars, followed by chocolate at 1.4 stars and coffee at 1.6.

It added that, in contrast, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with dairy-free yoghurts, rated highest at 3.6 stars, topped only by plain bottled water with five stars.

Simone Pettigrew at the University of New South Wales, also head of health promotion at the George Institute for Global Health, said food production accounts for around one-third of global emissions.

Although the shoppers have almost no way of knowing a product’s climate impact, the report suggested that Australians could cut more than 6,000 kg of emissions per year, equivalent to three round trips between Perth and Sydney.

This is done by replacing red meat and dairy with plant-based or lower-impact alternatives like poultry, seafood, and plant-based milk, Ms Pettigrew said.

She said highly processed foods also generate more emissions, making whole fruits and vegetables a better choice for the environment and personal health.

She added that the purpose-built ecoSwitch smartphone app equipped shoppers to make more sustainable grocery choices. 

(Xinhua/NAN)