This comparative risk analysis sought to quantify how food pricing policies to subsidise healthy foods and tax unhealthy foods could affect US cardiometabolic disease (CMD) mortality, overall and by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility and participation. The researchers obtained national data on diet from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003–2012) and mortality, using records from the mortality-linked National Health Interview Survey, and meta-analyses of policy-diet and diet-disease relationships. Calculations revealed that a national 10% price reduction on fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains could prevent an estimated 19,600 CMD deaths/year, including 2.6% of all CMD deaths among SNAP participants, 2.7% among SNAP-eligible non-participants and 2.6% among SNAP-ineligible nonparticipants. Moreover, adding a national 10% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats would prevent 33,700 CMD deaths/year, including 5.9% of all CMD deaths among SNAP participants, 4.8% among SNAP-eligible non-participants and 4.1% among SNAP-ineligible non-participants. Adding a SNAP-targeted 30% subsidy for the same healthy foods would offer the largest reductions in both CMD mortality and disparities.
