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MONDAY, April 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy on added sugar labeling could be a cost-effective way of improving health, according to a study published online April 15 in Circulation<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Yue Huang, from Tufts University in Boston, and colleagues used a validated microsimulation model to estimate the potential health impacts and cost-effectiveness of two policy scenarios: implementation of the FDA added sugar labeling policy (sugar label) and further accounting for corresponding industry reformulation (sugar label + reformulation). Representative demographic and dietary intake data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that the sugar label would prevent 354,400 cardiovascular disease cases and 599,300 type 2 diabetes mellitus cases between 2018 and 2037. The policy would also gain 727,000 quality-adjusted life-years and save $31 billion in net health care costs and $61.9 billion in societal costs. Adding industry reformulation would result in prevention of 708,800 cardiovascular disease cases and 1.2 million type 2 diabetes mellitus cases, 1.3 million quality-adjusted life-years gained, and $57.6 billion and $113.2 billion savings in net health care costs and societal costs, respectively. With >80 percent probability, both scenarios were estimated to be cost saving by 2023.<\/p>\n
“These findings have important implications for individuals, policy makers, and the food industry alike,” a coauthor said in a statement. “Modest industry reformulation would be a powerful way to maximize potential benefits, highlighting industry’s critical role in being part of the solution.”<\/p>\n
One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry; a second author disclosed ties to nutrition and personal care industries.<\/p>\n
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