London: US packaged food makers could help delay around 150,000 diet-related deaths each year by shifting sales towards healthier products already available in the market, according to a study published on September 24, 2026.
The research was conducted by the Netherlands-based Access to Nutrition Initiative and NGO ShareAction. The organisations analysed nearly 10,000 packaged food and beverage products sold by 24 major manufacturers operating in the United States.
The 24 companies included in the research account for an estimated 37 percent of the US packaged food and beverage market by sales value. The study examined the potential health impact of changing the mix of products sold across major food categories.
The findings showed that around 150,000 deaths linked to diet-related diseases could be delayed in a single year if companies shifted US sales towards healthier products. The diseases covered in the analysis include cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The study found that companies could achieve substantial health gains by moving sales towards the healthiest half of products within each food category. Such changes could also reduce healthcare costs and prevent around $11.6 billion in lost pay linked to diet-related ill health.
The largest opportunities for improvement were identified in baked goods, sauces, dips and condiments, confectionery, carbonated drinks and savoury snacks. These categories were highlighted because healthier alternatives are already available across the market.
According to the research, the availability of healthier products means companies could achieve many of the potential benefits without relying solely on the introduction of entirely new product lines. Portfolio changes and product reformulation could also play a role in shifting consumer sales towards healthier options.
The study therefore focused on changes within existing product ranges rather than requiring consumers to move away from packaged food altogether. The findings indicate that changes in which products companies promote and sell could have a measurable effect on diet-related health outcomes in the United States.
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