# ICQC team from seven countries proposes a joint food pyramid with focus on carbohydrate quality

- Published: 2026-11-08 07:58 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Agritech & food
- Tags: joint food pyramid, Advances in Nutrition, glycaemic index, EAT-Lancet reference diet, plant-based diet, BZfE pyramid, red meat portion, whole grains, food system emissions
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-1fd543851354200408c1a86d_icqc_team_from/

**Researchers compared dietary guidelines of seven countries and over 250 publications. The pyramid, published in Advances in Nutrition, adds environmental goals and uses glycaemic index for grains.**

![ICQC team from seven countries proposes a joint food pyramid with focus on carbohydrate quality](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/2d2e1c9a2b61b53e.jpg)
*Michael A Clark, Marco Springmann,  Jason Hill, and  David Tilman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

According to lomazoma.com (update of 8 November 2026), researchers of the International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium (ICQC) from seven countries have developed the first joint food pyramid. The team compared dietary guidelines from Canada, Germany, Australia, China, the Netherlands, the USA and the Nordic countries and reviewed more than 250 publications. The results appeared in the journal Advances in Nutrition [1].

The authors report that the pyramid combines health and environmental goals and can be applied to different diets, including vegetarian and vegan. The emphasis is on plant foods, on the quality of fats and protein sources, and on the quality of carbohydrates [1].

## Pyramid structure and portions

The base consists of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, traditional grains with a low glycaemic index (durum pasta, basmati rice, bulgur, quinoa) and legumes. The middle tier holds nuts, seeds, plant oils and moderate amounts of fish, poultry, eggs and dairy, preferably fermented. To be eaten sparingly: refined grains, red and processed meat, butter, sugary drinks, sweets, chips and excess salt [1].

Quantities follow the EAT-Lancet reference diet. Animal foods should make up no more than about two portions a day: one from dairy (about 250 g of yogurt or milk), the other from fish, poultry, eggs or limited amounts of lean red meat. Red meat is estimated at about 14 g a day, roughly one portion a week [1].

## Carbohydrate quality and comparison with the German BZfE pyramid

The pyramid of the German Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE) arranges eight food groups on six levels and uses traffic-light colours. Its recommendation of more than three quarters plant-based food matches the international model. According to the source, the differences are as follows: the glycaemic index is the key criterion within the grain group, and refined grains are placed in the "sparingly" category; sugar-sweetened drinks are treated separately; red meat is limited to about one portion a week, while the BZfE allows up to two portions of meat and sausage. The new pyramid recommends at least one portion of legumes a week [1].

Prof. Dr. Anette Buyken of the University of Paderborn said that, besides sugar and fibre content, the effect on blood glucose should be considered, since many people are insulin resistant. In the study, among breads only wholegrain varieties rate well, while durum pasta, basmati or parboiled rice, bulgur and pearl couscous produce lower blood glucose responses [1].

According to the study, food systems cause about one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with beef and lamb production contributing disproportionately. Study lead Della Corte of Brigham Young University (USA), citing the EAT-Lancet Commission, said that consistent adoption of such a plant-based diet could avoid about 15 million premature deaths a year. Buyken added that food environments, including advertising, access and prices, must support such choices [1].

## Sources

1. [lomazoma.com](https://lomazoma.com/gesunde-ernaehrung-was-sich-mit-der-neuen-ernaehrungspyramide-aendert)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-1fd543851354200408c1a86d_icqc_team_from/