A study published in 2017 looked at how U.S. food subsidies could affect heart health in American consumers. The authors found that increasing fruit and veg subsidies could save tens of thousands of lives every year.
A national 10% fruit and veg subsidy would save by far the most lives
Fiscal strategies targeting diet might substantially reduce CVD burdens. A national 10% fruit and vegetable subsidy would save by far the most lives, while a 30% fruit and veg subsidy targeting SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants would most reduce socio-economic disparities. A combined policy would have the greatest overall impact on both mortality and socio-economic disparities.
“Reducing US cardiovascular disease burden and disparities through national and targeted dietary policies: A modelling study”
A 30% fruit and veg subsidy targeting SNAP participants would most reduce socio-economic disparities
Using subsidies to make fruits and vegetables just 10% cheaper could save thousands of lives.
Among the individual policy scenarios, a national 10% fruit and vegetable subsidy was projected to be most beneficial, potentially resulting in approximately 150,500 Cardio-vascular disease deaths prevented or postpone by 2030 in the US.
“Reducing US cardiovascular disease burden and disparities through national and targeted dietary policies: A modelling study“
AFA recommends a shift to fruit & veg subsidies
In 2020, approximately half of US farm subsidies and bailouts favored the production of meat and dairy products.
Going forward, AFA suggests that Congress and the USDA shift subsidies to fruits and vegetables. Shifting subsidies would not only save lives, as suggested by this study but would also improve the environment. Shifting subsidies to plant foods rather than meat and dairy would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The study “Reducing US cardiovascular disease burden and disparities through national and targeted dietary policies: A modeling study,” shows that if the USDA subsidized agriculture production to better match USDA nutrition recommendations, it could save lives.
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