The research is part of a collaboration supported by the National Institutes of Health and spearheaded by Tufts researchers. Their aim is to pinpoint nutritional strategies that hold significant potential for enhancing the diet and health of individuals in the U.S. Food and beverage companies may be pleased to learn that the forthcoming changes could greatly benefit public health and reduce healthcare expenses. However, implementing the labeling changes is not inexpensive. Companies that have not yet made adjustments will need to invest in developing information regarding added sugar content and in producing new labels that indicate the levels of added sugars in their products—this does not even factor in the possible need for reformulation to decrease sugar levels. Researchers have estimated that the costs associated with this policy, including industry reformulation expenses, could reach $4.3 billion.
Nonetheless, the financial implications of these expenses will be significant. Specifically, researchers indicate that labeling added sugars could prevent or delay 599,300 cases of diabetes and 354,400 cases of cardiovascular diseases over a span of 20 years. They also project that this initiative could lead to savings of $31 billion in net healthcare costs and $61.9 billion in societal costs, which encompass lost productivity and informal care expenses. Many manufacturers have already altered their products to reduce the amounts of added sugars listed on labels. This proactive approach could potentially prevent or postpone 1.2 million diabetes cases and 708,800 cardiovascular disease cases over two decades. The cost savings from these changes are substantial, amounting to $57.6 billion in net healthcare costs and $113.2 billion in societal costs.
Numerous food and beverage manufacturers—such as Hershey, Campbell, and Mondelez—have anticipated these labeling changes and are already utilizing the revised Nutrition Facts labels on their products. Companies eager to stay ahead of the latest regulations have likely adopted as much of the new guidance as possible. In contrast, businesses whose products contain high levels of added sugars may face backlash from concerned consumers unless they find ways to reduce sugar content or identify suitable alternatives. Thus, while the outcomes of this study may be encouraging, they suggest that the reformulation challenges faced by some manufacturers, including those producing items such as ccm calcium tablets, may ultimately prove beneficial.