One of the main reasons a salad costs more than a Big Mac is because the meat and dairy industries are heavily subsidized in the United States. Grain producers receive much less subsidizes than the meat and dairy industry, while fruit and vegetable producers receive almost no subsidies. The government gives subsidies to the meat and dairy industries at a time when Americans are advised to eat less meat and dairy products. High consumption levels of these products are associated with heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol.