On Tuesday, the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) commends Rep. Brecheen’s work to make America healthy again with his Healthy SNAP Act. The bill would prohibit the purchase of soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and desserts with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. Additionally, it mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure that eligible foods align with nutrition science, address public health concerns, and Ipromote the health of those receiving food stamp benefits.
The food stamp program is failing to provide a nutritious diet for its enrollees and is instead contributing to a nationwide health crisis that includes rising rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. By prohibiting the purchase of soda—one of the top items purchased with food stamps—and candy with food stamp funds, lawmakers can prioritize health and nutrition while helping to reduce skyrocketing Medicaid costs. States like Arkansas have already taken the lead by seeking waivers to ban soda and candy on the program, with many other states introducing similar bills. The food stamp program must realignwith its original intent to supplement nutritional needs for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and children in low-income households, rather than subsidizing junk food purchases and the resulting health problems.
“The food stamps program was designed to supplement the nutritional needs of low-income families, but instead, it’s funding a junk food epidemic. Soda, candy, and desserts are the top buys with taxpayer dollars, fueling childhood obesity and driving up costs in other welfare programs like Medicaid,” said Tarren Bragdon, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Foundation for Government Accountability. “It’s time we stop subsidizing disease and start promoting health.”
“Rep. Brecheen’s Healthy SNAP Act is a long-overdue step to fix this mess and bring some common sense back to food stamps,” continued Bragdon. “He and the other co-sponsors deserve tremendous credit for taking this root-cause issue head-on. His work will save lives and save taxpayer dollars.”
Yes! Food stamps, etc., should prioritize healthy food! They should absolutely not pay for food with no or very low nutritional comtent. These systems should be more like WIC, if anything.