[3] Berg's contributions to the field of nutrition have had a significant impact on the way development agencies and governments approach the issue of malnutrition as a fundamental component of economic growth.

Additionally, Berg's work has led to an increased focus on nutrition policy, planning, and implementation in academic training programs for nutritionists, creating new opportunities for graduates in this field.

[4][8] Berg began his public service in nutrition as a staff member and then deputy director of the White House's Food for Peace program under John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B.

[11] When famine struck India in 1966-67, Berg coordinated a massive food aid distribution effort that is recognized as having saved millions of lives.

[17][18] It was nominated for a National Book Award, cited the effect of poor nutritional status on mortality and on the cognitive development of survivors, underlining the far-reaching consequences of malnutrition.

[4] Berg also served as visiting professor of nutrition policy and planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1972 to 1976, where he organized and led a conference that drew government ministers and international development authorities.

[20] His work attracted the attention of policymakers and is largely recognized with establishing nutrition as a crucial aspect of international development strategies and devising multisectoral planning tools to address it.

[22] Berg's call for due attention to nutrition, as a key component of both economic development and human wellbeing, has been widely acknowledged within the World Bank and internationally.

[27] In addition, Berg has written articles and opinion pieces for Foreign Affairs,[28] The New York Times,[29] Harvard Business Review,[30] The Washington Post,[31] and The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, among other publications.