The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR), which form the scientific basis for Swedish dietary guidelines, have not been updated for a decade. When they are now presented in their final form, it is not only health that is in focus – but also the planet.

This is noticeable when NNR clearly highlights plant-based food over animal foods. But the big watershed in this spring's nutrition debate is not the food – but the alcohol.

Drink a little – preferably not at all

The alcohol recommendations have been out for consultation during the spring, following the WHO's initial advice, which has taken a rare restrictive line. The WHO's Institute for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that alcohol is the second largest cancer risk after tobacco.

Now, even the NNR says there is no safe limit on consumption and that everyone "should avoid alcohol intake."

The new report states that alcohol is a toxic substance that affects all organs of the body. It also states that there is "strong evidence that can link alcohol consumption to various cancers, especially breast cancer".

"Alcohol is not an essential nutrient, and from a nutritional point of view, the energy contribution from a high intake of alcoholic beverages has a negative impact on the quality of the diet," says Anne Høyer-Lund, senior advisor at the Norwegian Directorate of Health, which has been involved in developing the advice.

Criticised breastfeeding advice to be abolished

On the other hand, the previously criticized advice that breastfeeding women should completely abstain from alcohol as it is not possible to rule out risks to the baby.

But the research world is diverging. According to some, the proposal was unscientific and retrograde, while others argue that some research suggests that young children have no way of getting rid of the alcohol they ingest through breast milk.

"There is not enough evidence to establish a separate recommendation for breastfeeding women. Therefore, the recommendations for breastfeeding women are the same as for the adult population in general," says Høyer-Lund.

Watch the dietitian list the biggest challenges with the new nutritional advice in the video above.