Healthier packaged food portfolios could avert 150,000 US diet deaths a year: study
A study of 24 major US packaged food and beverage makers finds that shifting sales to healthier products could prevent around 150,000 diet-related deaths a year.
US packaged food and beverage companies could prevent roughly 150,000 deaths linked to diet-related diseases each year by steering their sales towards healthier products, according to a new study.
The research, published on Thursday, was carried out by the Netherlands-based Access to Nutrition initiative and the NGO ShareAction. It examined close to 10,000 packaged food and beverage products sold by 24 major manufacturers operating in the United States.
Those 24 companies are estimated to account for about 37% of the US packaged food and beverage market by sales value.
The study found that around 150,000 deaths tied to conditions such as cardiovascular disease and stroke could be delayed within a single year if companies shifted their US sales towards healthier products that are already on the market.
Beyond the health impact, the analysis estimated that such a move could prevent approximately US$11.6 billion in lost pay caused by diet-related ill health, while also substantially reducing healthcare costs.
The biggest opportunities for improvement were identified in baked goods, sauces, dips and condiments, confectionery, carbonated drinks and savory snacks.
According to the study, healthier alternatives already exist across these categories, meaning many of the potential benefits could be realised through portfolio shifts and product reformulation.