The hidden cost of American food

The annual cost and impact of obesity in America exceeds $1.4 trillion through the cost of treatment and the impact on productivity. This statistic, while alarming, is not surprising. However, individual Americans are not entirely to blame, as their food is engineered to maximise corporate profits and leave consumers addicted, with the country’s food regulation being insufficient.

According to the Environmental Working Group, an American activist group specialising in toxic chemicals and corporate accountability, there are more than 10,000 chemicals and substances allowed in American food. 99% of the substances introduced since 2000 are self-verified as safe by the food and chemical industries themselves, not the Food and Drug Administration which is tasked with food safety.

260 million Americans [will be] overweight or obese by 2050

The major loophole that firms exploit is that foods considered to be GRAS (generally recognised as safe) bypass the official approval process. Originally, it was so ingredients like vinegar could bypass the system, but over time, firms have abused this to include additives in their foods by self-determining their foods as GRAS. Experts estimate that this has led to approximately 1,000 untested ingredients in American food.

In October 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom passed the California Food Safety Act, which banned food containing four harmful chemicals, like red dye 3 and brominated vegetable oil. He cited the EU’s ban on these chemicals as the reason for the act. California took further action in September 2024, with the ban of six food dyes such as Red 40, in products that are sold in Californian schools.

Red 40, made from petroleum, has been associated with hyperactivity and ADHD in children, according to some studies. Furthermore, Red 40 contains benzene, a cancer-causing substance. However, some studies say that the low dose is unlikely to have adverse effects. Ultimately, the full extent of its impact remains unclear, yet this highlights the contrasting approaches in food safety across the Atlantic. While the FDA maintains a more reactive stance, allowing unrestricted Red 40 use, the EU has a precautionary approach, with heavy regulation on Red 40.

In general, the quality of American food is poor. A large proportion of the American diet consists of ultra-processed foods. These are defined as having changed the most from their original state into an ultra-palatable food, often containing more additives and preservatives.

The production of ultra-processed foods is indirectly promoted by the American government through subsidies. The government has provided $116 billion since 1995 to corn producers, along with further subsidies to products like wheat and soybeans. All three of these crops are used instead of more expensive whole ingredients, with corn being processed into high fructose corn syrup, a cheaper sugar alternative found in sodas and snacks. With subsidies on these and minimal subsidies on fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy diet can be a costly challenge.

678,000 Americans die each year from chronic food illnesses

Ultra-processed foods are ubiquitous in the American diet. American food contains a larger number of ingredients, with there being nearly three times the number in a common brand of whole wheat bread compared to a similar brand in the UK.

Furthermore, ultra-processed foods account for 57.9% of energy intake in the US, a worryingly high number, as they have lower nutritional value along with being linked to overeating. All of this combined with often sedentary lifestyles is a recipe for disaster.

American food is hurting both the economy and its people. Individuals with a high BMI of 35, classified as being severely obese, have a productivity loss of nearly 5% along with higher absenteeism. More critically, approximately 678,000 Americans die each year from chronic food illnesses like diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Americans’ life expectancy is on average 78.6 years, lower than the UK’s 81.3 years, despite Americans spending significantly more on healthcare.

While America’s food may not be entirely to blame for such a gap, it could explain a significant proportion of it. People suffering from obesity are also more likely to suffer from mental health issues like depression, with one study finding them to be 55% more likely to develop it.

Worryingly, the issue seems to be worsening, as without immediate action, there will be nearly 260 million Americans classified as overweight or obese by 2050. This isn’t just adults, but children too, as the number of American children who are overweight or obese will rise to 43.1 million by 2050, an increase of 6.71 million on 2021.

Overall, America’s poor regulation of food along with the indirect promotion of ultra-processed foods, is hurting their economy, and more importantly, their people. America needs stronger regulation and should explore subsidies for healthier foods.