According to a study published in The Lancet medical journal, consuming less meat and dairy products would cut premature deaths from ischemic heart disease by as much as 3% per year in the United Kingdom and 2% in Brazil. This effect would likely result in more damage to Brazil’s gross domestic product compared to the U.K.’s, if both countries followed WHO guidelines. These guidelines recommend eating less than 10% of dietary energy as saturated fat.

Researchers theorize that the U.K. would enjoy substantial health benefits and associated low costs from the adoption of a diet low in saturated fat from animal sources, while Brazil would experience little health benefit but more striking economic costs from such action. Brazil exported 1.6 million metric tons of beef and veal in 2009.