Dive Brief:
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People who consume federally subsidized foods have higher risks of obesity and abnormal cholesterol and blood glucose levels over those who do not, a new study indicates.
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The foods come from agricultural commodities that often are heavily refined, or from high-fat meat and dairy products.
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The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggests "better alignment of agricultural and nutritional policies may potentially improve population health."
Dive Insight:
Natural foods advocates have long made this claim: Subsidized government food is designed to help growers and sellers more than consumers. This study appears to back up that claim, noting the various health risks among people who consume the foods.
But it is not just the growers who appear to benefit. "Most important, while the subsidy is a necessary support to families on low incomes, it is also a substantial gift to one of the largest players in the food system" —namely Wal-Mart, a commentary piece in JAMA Internal Medicine states. If current trends continue, the commentary estimates that $136 billion of the money in the next farm bill will be spent at Wal-Mart.
"Among US adults, higher consumption of calories from subsidized food commodities was associated with a greater probability of some cardiometabolic risks," the study concludes.