True Costs of Food Database

The True Costs of Food Database Version 1 is the first publicly available database worldwide to apply a True Cost Accounting (TCA) approach, providing comprehensive data on the environmental and health impacts, along with the true costs, of food products consumed in the European Union. The database contains information on over 2,000 raw or minimally processed food items, representing more than 200 products sourced from 81 countries. The work builds on the Sustainability Assessment of Foods and Diets (SAFAD) database V. 1.99 and monetization factors from True Price and CE Delft. The impact modelling methodology is in line with the international life cycle assessment (LCA) guideline ISO 14040 and follows the ReCiPe 2016 LCA method. The True Costs of Food Database v. 1 was developed under the Horizon Europe research project PLAN’EAT, running from 2022–2026, with financial support from the European Commission. TMG – Töpfer, Müller, Gaßner GmbH led the development of the database. To avoid misunderstandings or inappropriate use, please consult True Costs of Food Database: Documentation and User Manual. The extensive documentation is available to ensure transparency in the work