Richard Proudfit, who founded Feed My Starving Children in 1987, passed away at a nursing home in the Minnesota city of Bloomington on Tuesday, a spokesman said.
A US Senator for the state, Tina Smith described Mr Proudfit as a "compassionate" man who "dedicated much of his life to fighting child hunger".
She wrote on Twitter: "He brought Minnesotans together to do good, raised awareness about an important issue, and helped humanity."
Mr Proudfit was on medical relief mission in Honduras in 1982 when he believed God called him to feed the starving children he had seen. Feed My Starving Children was established five years later.
Chief executive officer, Mark Crea said: "He planted the seeds for thousands upon thousands of children to be fed when he answered God's call to 'Feed my starving children'".
The non-profit organisation has since sent more than two billion meals to children and families in 70 nations.
Richard Proudfit was a compassionate Minnesotan who dedicated much of his life to fighting child hunger. He brought Minnesotans together to do good, raised awareness about an important issue, and helped humanity. Peace to Richard's family. https://t.co/KP2WuI2Z4Z
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) November 14, 2018
Another US Senator in Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar tweeted: "He leaves a legacy of billions of meals delivered to malnourished children all around the world. He will be missed."
According to the Star Tribune, Mr Proudfit met with scientists from companies including General Mills and Cargill to create a food product.
Sad to hear that we've lost Richard Proudfit, the founder of Minnesota-based Feed My Starving Children @fmsc_org. He leaves a legacy of billions of meals delivered to malnourished children all around the world. He will be missed. https://t.co/a0D5iMKVBr
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) November 15, 2018
Their chosen combination of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and chicken flavouring, plus vitamins and minerals, remains in use today.
Mr Proudfit departed from Feed My Starving Children in 1998. He went on to create another organisation, Kids Against Hunger.
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