Cheap Meals Come With A Hidden Price. A New Analysis Puts The Lifetime Toll Near $360,000.

Source: International Business Times

A customer shops in the potato chip aisle of a store on April 21, 2026, in Miami, Florida. Getty Images A cheaper grocery bill could come with a much bigger cost over time: a new economic analysis estimates that Americans who regularly consume diets high in ultra-processed foods could face nearly $360,000 in additional lifetime economic costs compared with those who eat relatively little of them. The analysis, commissioned by prepared-food manufacturer Amy's Kitchen and released Monday, factors in medical expenses, lost earnings, long-term care and reduced life expectancy.