Documentary Review: Forks over Knives (2011)

Forks over Knives is a documentary that advocates for a whole-food, plant-based diet, primarily from a health perspective. It follows the work of Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, who argue that many chronic diseases - including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and come cancers - can be prevented or even reversed through a low-fat, plant-based diet.

While the film focuses mainly on health outcomes, it touches briefly on the environmental impact of animal agriculture suggesting that a shift to plant-based eating also benefits the planet. However the climate angle is not deeply explored in the film itself. 

In 2025, the core health claims presented in Fork Over Knives remain relevant. A large body of peer-reviewed research supports the idea that diets high in whole plant foods and low in processed meats and saturated fats are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Major health organisations, such as the American Heart Association and the World Health Organisation, continue to emphasise plant-forward eating patterns.

From a climate perspective, the environmental argument for plant-based diets has become much stronger since the film's release. According to the IPCC and studies published in journals such as Science and Nature, animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water use. In 2018, a landmark study led by Joseph Poore found that shifting to a plant-based diet could reduce food-related emissions by up to 70%.

Despite this the film does not explore the climate science in depth, but still the message in Forks Over Knives - that diet is a powerful tool for both personal and public health - has aged well. As chronic disease rates and climate pressures continue to rise, the film's call to reconsider what's on our plates feels more relevant than ever.