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Vegan Infants Thrive Equally with Proper Nutrition, Study Finds

2/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

The study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev finds infants from vegetarian and vegan households reach the same growth by age 2 as omnivorous peers, with proper nutrition.
The 1.2 million-infant sample supports well-planned diets and nutritional counseling for optimal development.
Lead researcher Kerem Avital notes vegan infants had higher underweight odds initially, but the gap disappeared by 24 months.
Avital also emphasizes avoiding ultra-processed foods for all infants.

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Story summary

The study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev finds infants from vegetarian and vegan households reach the same growth by age 2 as omnivorous peers, with proper nutrition.
The 1.2 million-infant sample supports well-planned diets and nutritional counseling for optimal development.
Lead researcher Kerem Avital notes vegan infants had higher underweight odds initially, but the gap disappeared by 24 months.
Avital also emphasizes avoiding ultra-processed foods for all infants.