“An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure”

By FALPC Intern, Kristina Kalolo

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) recently released, The $11 Trillion Reward an article that argues for “how simple dietary changes can save lives and money, and how we get there”. They contend that the simple and painless solution of increasing daily fruit and vegetable servings is the way to help prevent the 750,000 deaths that occur annually due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the United States. By having Americans eat the recommended daily portions of fruits and vegetables, $11 trillion could be saved in health care and medical costs. Even if people added just one more portion, or ½ cups, per day that would save an estimated $2.7 trillion.

The UCS finds fault in the country’s farm policies that lavishly subsidize crops such as wheat, corn, and soybeans that become “junk foods” rather than supporting smaller, local food initiatives producing fruits and vegetables.

Aiming for practical, low-cost policy reforms, the UCS recommends:

1) Encouraging farmers to increase vegetable production of fruits &             vegetables– Through the support of research and development on effective crop insurance policies and other appropriate subsidies.

2) Invest in infrastructure to increase access to fresh foods– Use grants             and subsidized loans to promote grocery stores, farmers markets, and food hubs.

3) Reduce obstacles for people wishing to redeem food assistance benefits at             local markets.

The proposed solutions put forth by the UCS have great appeal, a staggering 86% of Americans support government action to prevent heart disease and 84% favor policies that improve the affordability of fresh produce.  This could include publically funded research on plant breeding programs to increase yields of fruits and vegetables and help generate new varieties that can better adapt to different climates and environments. Additionally, more than 30 million Americans live in low-income neighborhoods with limited access to grocery stores or other ways to access foods. By establishing infrastructure for locally sourced foods, there be greater access to fresher, healthier foods- particularly low-income Americans who are disproportionately located in food deserts.

There are three reasons why the UCS encourages local food markets as a priority:

1) 65% of foods sold locally are fruits and vegetables– These are relatively             unprocessed, usually fresher, and more nutritious.

2) Local food markets can contribute to greater levels of fruit and             vegetable consumption– The increased grower to consumer contact increases the             knowledge of the product and ways to consume it.

3) Current farm policies largely do not take interest in local production of             healthy foods- Implementing smarter policies means stronger local economies without the need for massive federal support.

In an Op-Ed piece for the New York Times, Mark Bittman refers to this article, saying “That’s a big number, $11 trillion, but even if it’s off by 90 percent (it’s difficult to put a value on lives), who’s to scoff at a trillion bucks?” Bittman continues on to discuss the problematic agricultural policies and agrees with the UCS that “If government is to go to agriculture, it should go to those farmers who are eager to grow the foods that will sustain us. What that’s worth is inestimable”.

While $11 trillion is certainly eye-catching and important, Bittman reminds us that the most critical aspect of this is the health of the American population. It is necessary that Americans consume more fruits and vegetables and it is imperative that there are government-supported farm policies that encourage these healthy behaviors.