Danone study finds access to nutritious food to be as important as healthcare access

28 Jun 2023 --- Americans find access to nutritious food as important as the economy and access to healthcare, according to a new study by Danone North America. Moreover, one in four do not hold a positive outlook on the future of nutrition and food security.

Most Americans don’t eat what they describe as very healthy or nutritious foods. This was highest observed among the lower-income respondents.

According to the 4,000 Americans in the study, 60% reported that they do not eat a nutritious diet because of economic and physical barriers, which affects the whole country, communities and families. The study further finds that diet-related diseases cause one million preventable deaths annually.

“Danone believes in a future where nutrition is more available, accessible and equitable – our vision is for a more inclusive state of nutrition where consumers have agency over their health through food,” says Shane Grant, group deputy CEO at Danone.

Food accessibility, healthcare, the economy and the cost of living are equally essential issues in the study.Economic pressures
These study findings are presented amid economic uncertainty and pressures, also driven by the discontinued SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits post the pandemic. According to Danone, this will cause 15 million people to lose coverage in the coming months.

The respondents ranked food accessibility, healthcare, the economy and cost of living as equally essential issues faced today (87-88%), followed by jobs and unemployment, political climate and the environment. The respondents with a lower income ranked food accessibility as a more significant issue at 93%.

More access to nutritious food results in higher life quality and better health. Due to the economy, many people have had to cut back on purchases over the last years, which has brought challenges to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. According to the report, one in three consumers has had to stop essential and non-essential purchases.

Nutrition and mental health
The report details that access to more nutritious food would enhance childhood development, improve health disparities and reduce healthcare costs.

The study also found a growing relationship between nutrition and mental health, as 76% of the respondents reported believing that what they eat affects their mental or emotional state and 78% believe that their mental or emotional state affects what they eat.

Danone also found a difference among generations, as Gen Z and millennials were more likely to report that their mental state affects their eating than older generations.

Need for collaborationDanone has funded 15 projects, and by 2025 it will have provided US$500,000.
The study also found that Americans expect both private and public collaboration to improve nutrition access, and they expect as much from retailers and corporations as they do from federal, state and local governments.

Additionally, 70% say they are “more likely to support companies that help address access to nutritious food.”

The Danone Institute in North America provides seed funding for projects targeting nutrition and community health, the company details. So far, it has funded 15 projects, and by 2025 it will have provided US$500,000.

The company also promotes WIC (Women, Infants and Children) food package options and supports the US Department of Agriculture’s efforts to limit sodium and sugar levels in school meals. Danone launched the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance with other consumer packaged goods companies to advocate for policies to protect the planet.

“Our mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible, but we cannot act alone. Improving nutrition equality at scale will require partnership across sectors for transformational change,” says Grant.

By Beatrice Wihlander

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