BEER-SHEVA, Israel, February 9, 2026 – While the global shift toward plant-based living continues to accelerate, a critical question has lingered for parents and pediatricians: Can a vegan or vegetarian diet support the rapid growth required in the first two years of life?
A landmark study of nearly 1.2 million infants led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers and the Nutrition Division of the Israeli Ministry of Health suggests the answer is a reassuring yes. The research, published last week in JAMA Network Open (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2844665) , found that infants from vegan and vegetarian households follow growth trajectories nearly identical to their omnivorous peers by age two.
This study analyzed a decade of records (2014–2023) provided by the Israeli Ministry of Health , which tracks the development of approximately 70% of the children in the country. This massive dataset allowed the team—led by Kerem Avital, MPH , and Prof. Danit R. Shahar, PhD , of BGU —to move beyond small-scale debates and provide population-level evidence.
The research revealed several key insights regarding infant development:
“In the context of developed countries, these findings are highly reassuring,” said Kerem Avital, lead researcher and PhD candidate at Ben-Gurion University. “The data suggests that with the proper environment, plant-based diets do not compromise the fundamental physical development of infants.”
As veganism moves from a niche lifestyle to a global health trend, BGU’s research provides the scientific "bridge" needed to inform international public health policy and nutritional counseling for the next generation.
Additional researchers included: Uri Hamiel (Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center), and Naomi Fliss-Isakov and Moran Blaychfeld-Magnaz (Nutrition Division of the Israeli Ministry of Health).
JAMA Network Open
10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.57798
Data/statistical analysis
People
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