There’s more talk about banning food stamp recipients from buying soda with their benefits.
Of course this has created a roaring debate. It seems elitist to tell the poor what they can buy with Food Stamps (officially, they’re called SNAP benefits now.) On the other hand, as taxpayers who are ultimately paying for the food, don’t we have a say in how it gets spent?
My opinion? I disagree with Marion Nestle on this one.
I think it’s wrong to ban just sodas from being purchased with SNAP benefits unless there is a radical change to the system. Right now, you get an allotment of money to spend at whatever stores on whatever foods. It’s not right to single out sodas when there are so many products with questionable nutritive value on grocery store shelves.
It is, to put it bluntly, flat out stupid to allow items with no nutritional value to be purchased with food stamps. The program, after all, is called SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program.
If they ban sodas, they should ban all foods with little to no nutritional value. Diet sodas, soda pops, candy, pancake syrups that are little more than high fructose corn syrup with fake flavoring and fake coloring, Twinkies, and so on. You can buy Jelly Bellys and Skittles with stamps- aren’t they just as bad as sodas?
Real sweeteners, such as sugar or maple syrup, which actually have a use in making real foods and at least have some micronutrients, wouldn’t be included in this category.
Let’s not even get into how we subsidize high fructose corn syrup through the farm bill, which makes HFCS products such as sodas appear cheaper (and thus, more attractive to folks on a tight budget) than fresh produce or 100% fruit juice.
What I actually think should happen is that the SNAP program should work a bit more like the WIC program. WIC recipients get a list of foods that can be purchased with WIC benefits. For example, in TX the WIC card might be loaded with $20 for fruits and vegetables. You can buy canned, frozen, or fresh fruit and veg with that $20- it’s up to you- but you can’t buy “fruit flavored” items.
I think it’s okay to separate foods into “nourishing” and “treats”, or junk food. It does kind of chap my hide that you can buy Diet Pepsi and Wonder Bread with SNAP but you can’t buy your kids a good children’s chewable multivitamin with it. I can understand why they had to draw that line, though.
The Catch-22? I don’t think the government should be telling people what to eat. They’re not really very good at it, and a one size fits all approach isn’t going to achieve optimum health in food stamp users. Plus, with the lobbying and everything, it will just be a debacle.
If Big Government gets too involved, and starts regulating, for example, that 10% of SNAP must be used for dairy, where does that leave the lactose intolerant? I could see BigGov deciding that pork has too many health risks (after the beef lobby gets done, that is) and prohibiting SNAP benefits from being used for bacon.
What do you think? Should food stamps go for any food in the store, or should the line be drawn somewhere? And if there is a stricter limit to the types of foods that can be bought, what should it be?
Karen (1)
Raso @ lasagnarec... (1)
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I would really be in support of regulating what is bought. I detest the idea that recipients can, and many do, buy nothing but crap. You always make such good points and I see those but this system is beyond flawed and that would be a positive change.
For many without means, local stores do not carry quality fruit or vegetables or even fresh meat. I can think of several nearby locales that would offer none, so recipients would be left with no option — or with a scrupulous grocer who might truck in fruit and vegs for an exhorbitant price. When one receives benefits and is unable to shop far from their home, they will get more food by buying cheap, filler, less nutritive stuff and I believe if the govt begins to regulate, then it must also find a way to fix prices within a reachable limit. This will not happen — too many greedy hands in a pot.
This problem is bigger than how to “fix” SNAP spending. It is a problem of inherent violence in our systems and in our thinking. Too many thoughts to be coherent or helpful here …
I’m more concerned with Wall Street welfare and waste, really, and the lack of compassion shown and engendered by our elected persons.
but, Denise, on the other hand… if a grocer knew his customers could only buy fresh food/grocery staples, because they received benefits, that would mean he had a built in market and might carry the more nutritious options.
I completely agree that the whole food system, from ag to distribution, needs an overhaul from the ground up. I wish our legislators would consider subsidizing veggies instead of corn, much of which is used for ethanol, animal feed, and processed foods such as high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, etc. What if the SBA gave special consideration for loans for merchants willing to open groceries with fresh produce? What if there was a grant for a VeggieMobile to bring farmer’s markets to food deserts like Book Mobiles bring libraries to poor neighborhoods?
I don’t have a problem with using them for bottled water at all. After all, in many places your only choices for a drink are bottled water or soda.
PLUS, in eastern KY the water is so polluted from mountaintop removal mining that it is safer to drink pop (or bottled water — maybe).
I think it’s definitely one of those–it either goes too far or not far enough. I too, wonder what’s so special about soda. And diet soda–while it certainly has little nutritional value–helps me to feel full and get an artificial “sugar fix” so I’m not drinking or eating real sugar. I definitely understand your point about special diets–I eat low carb for health reasons, my daughter can’t tolerate sugar well, my son is allergic to milk (and DH can’t do sugar substitutes; it’s a wonder I can feed everyone
.
It’s a lot cheaper to buy bread than meat, and cheaper to buy milk than soy milk. And it’s also cheaper to buy soda than milk.
Also, if one has food stamps and no transportation and no extra money even for bus fares, convenience stores charge exhorbitant prices and offer little that’s healthy.
If citizens have a duty to help the unfortunate, we also have a duty to make sure we don’t enable poverty and disfunction with dumb benefits.
I agree very much with your post. As a taxpayer, I want my dollars to prevent hunger, period. I can’t do much about Wall Street but I can demand that my money be used properly!
My issue with the whole “my money” argument is that I don’t like how my money is used in a lot of ways. I don’t like war, I don’t like abstinence only education, I don’t like the Farm Bill, I don’t like some representatives, etc. So, for me to argue that I have this “right” to regulate how SNAP benefits are used based on my less-than-one-cent contribution seems not only elitest (as you said) but almost entitled and me taking out my frustration at paying taxes into a broken system on people who can’t afford food. That just doesn’t sit well with me.
Now, that being said, I think “the system” needs an overhaul. I think we should not only offer SNAP but nutrition programs which would help educated families on the best way for them to use their benefits given their local grocers and time commitments (hard to cook from scratch if you have several jobs, for instance). I think that a grocery store that takes SNAP should be required to carry certain things and that there should be some parameters on what you can buy. If the goal of these programs is to give a hand up and get people out of poverty it doesn’t help if they eat so poorly that a medical crises puts them back into it.
I think another problem is that many people are surprisingly ignorant about what “healthy” food is, and even when they can identify it, they often don’t have the time or the skills to prepare it.
I’m happily Real Food blog obssesed, but there’s something disturbing about how a basic survival skill has become “foodie culture.”
Along with some basic money management classes, they really need to bring Home Economics back into schools. Or better, offer freee nutrition and cooking classes for people who are using food stamps.
Focusing on things like sodas is just another way to pretend to be doing something while ignorning the larger structural issues.
I would love to see people being taught to use their food stamps better. Basic cooking classes. Money management. Coupon classes. All around life skills. Rides to the grocery store, so people don’t just buy what they can carry.
However, if people want soda badly enough, they’ll find the money to pay for it. I think it won’t be long before soda goes off the list because of higher prices. Soda is 3/$5 at a couple stores this week, and rising.
I too think that soda is one of the worst junk foods. However, when pregnant with #3, I bought a lot of it, and candy too. Why? I couldn’t keep anything down, and if I had to be upright, sipping on soda, or sucking on hard candy made it possible. So I hate to deprive people of choices they may actually need. I do think our food system needs to be overhauled with the government subsidizing things that are actually good for us, rather than what is killing us. But starting with SNAP doesn’t make sense to me.
I agree with you for the most part. However, our whole welfare system is so wasteful in the country. I know from experience that those that need the benefits the most don’t get them and too many abuse the system. I also think that we should subsidize health foods not corn products.
There’s a low-income forum that I lurk in occasionally. The members have made comments about how they feel judged by others when they use SNAP benefits to buy treats to celebrate a child’s birthday or other special occasion. I don’t think it’s the business of government to dictate anyone’s diet.
This reminds of Proverbs 31, where it says something along the lines of “let the poor drink and get drunk, so they can forget their troubles for a while”.
@Peggy,
It’s really a no win situation. People are judged if they use food stamps to buy low-nutrient food, but they are ALSO judged just as harshly, often, if they buy organic produce or milk, or grassfed beef.
Personally, I’d fully support people buying natural, organic, quality ingredients.
This is hard. I think part of the problem is, healthy food is often more expensive. The other problem is, healthy food is often perceived as more expensive. Do you know it looks like bottled water is more expensive than soda, until you look at the per unit price (in my area). But healthier cuts of meat ARE more expensive.
I think a lot of people cook how their Moms did and show how they did. They shop for ease instead of health and for what their kids get excited about when they walk past it. And this isn’t just for those that have food stamps. I see women that can afford anything in that store doing the same thing.
I don’t know how I feel about regulation. I would be unhappy if a Mom couldn’t buy a cake for her child’s simple birthday celebration. But not sad that she couldn’t by Coke every single time she went shopping. Of course, I wouldn’t be sad if NO ONE couldn’t buy soda everytime they went shopping.
However, more regulation means more government and THAT is one thing I am fully against.
I have to agree with Lisa, that there seems to be no way for people to shop on food stamps, everybody assumes that they are stupid or wasteful. Frozen pizza? They are too stupid to buy their kids decent food! Organic produce? How dare they waste my tax money! It is just too difficult to figure it out. Education seems to be the key, but it is patronizing and whose food values are they going to teach? The USDA?FDA ones?
Have you seen “Fat Head” yet? Great doc! He also touches on the stereotype of lazy, stupid, wasteful poor people. He hasn’t figured out what to do about the obestity epidemic and the fact that obestity negatively corresponds with income, but he does point out that people are more aware of what they are eating than they get credit for. It is a logistical nightmare to get people to decide to eat differently and to make the general public aware of the need for the poor to eat well. They need food stamps and acceptance so they can get access to organic produce and grassfed beef.
Thanks for bringing the conversation to the public square.
No, I haven’t heard of it! I’ll have to see if it’s on Netflix, thanks for the recommend!
I have an interesting graphic for you
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/25402_381770455129_620440129_5014914_3218258_n.jpg
Hope it is visible for you.
It shows that subsidies for farmers are mostly put into meat and dairy(70% ), nearly everything else is used as subsidies for producing corn…and soy as feed(24% ).
Corn which is than turned into high fructose corn sirup, not the corn that you eat as pop corn or sweet corn.
Compared to that, the growing of vegetables and fruits is getting only bread crumbs.
If it would be handled fair, fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables could be a cheap and healthy staple, cheaper than fast food burgers and fries and soft drinks laden with corn sirup.
Gosh, twice I have tried to pipe in and my comments become so lengthy that I close the comment and leave. Touchy subject and in today’s world where saying things can be misconstrued, I opted each time to erase the comment. But you have me thinking!
Jennifer
what do you purcahse with your food stamps?…… for nine kids?…….
Who says MHM is on Food Stamps at this time?
What does the number of her children have to do with anything?
Why is it your business what she might buy with them?
Are you on food stamps?
Do you have a blog? I need new reading material.
Kristin, you are awesome! I have been meaning to back to reply to your post for a couple of days, you deserved a high five!
Thanks, Melissa. I do not like anonymous posters who only want to stir stuff up. And if they want to have an intelligent discussion, I’m all in.
I’ll admit that I have received food stamps for my 3 children…
As a working mama on foodstamps…. I disagree and agree with a ban on buying soda and other things that not good for you…
I agree that it should be done due to that so many do just buy soda and stuff that is not good for their kids….
I disagree due to, as a 40+hour working mama on foodstamps, And I do pay taxes on things. I should be able to go grab a can of cola like other folks. My kids should be able to eat some frozen pizza or even get a candy bar.
a vent on folks who govern foodstamps
I use coupons to make them go further…. I have to pay the tax on the coupon itself. I still save a lot, but I think there should not be a tax on using coupons for those that try to maximize their benefit amount.
Ginger,
Unfortunately, that’s at a state level. In Texas, we are taxed on non food items at a post coupon price. A lot of food items have no tax. A list can be found here (http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/audit/grocery/2_taxable.htm) for anyone who’s interested. In addition, if you’re paying with your EBT, there shouldn’t be any tax on food items.
I agree that there shouldn’t be a tax on pre-coupon price.
I haven’t ever had food stamps, but I’ve had (still have) WIC. I get a certain list of specific foods that I’m required to buy. It doesn’t cover my toddler’s entire diet for a month, nor is it meant to. It’s supplemental to help. It covers a lot, bread, cereal, eggs, milk, fruit, peanut butter, cheese, juice… They’ve even switched it to soy milk and tofu after the doctor diagnosed her lactose intolerant. I feel that SNAP should be the same way. It’s not covering anyones entire diet, or at least it shouldn’t. You are still spending some of your own money to buy food, so use that to buy the soda and cake if you must. We used to buy a lot of that stuff, but have cut down considerably, because we have one child with a food dye sensitivity, and one with lactose and gluten intolerance, so we’re trying to not have a ton of stuff in our house that only certain people can eat – makes meal planning too complicated.
@kristen: seeing how you are not the author of this blog, i think your line of questioning is quite comical. i’ll just keep it at that. tootles!
i’m lactose so i do not like it i stay away from milk stuff. and the only soda i buy with it is the all natural lemon lime flavor. and the limit on how much fruit i hope wouldn’t happen i luv fruit i wouldn’t want that to effect it in anyway.
its enough all ready the only reason they are doing all of this is to make it harder and hearder to get and use foodstamps so we get fed up and not want the help
Not everyone on food stamps has children. Some are temporary benefit receiving adults who may have lost a job that paid well due to unforeseen staffing cuts related to the economy. Food stamps stimulate the economy. Why shouldn’t all food stuff manufacturer’s benefit from the stimulus? Look into your own cart for empty calories before trying to cull them out of the carts of the unfortunate. I personally cannot imagine a childhood devoid of all treats. Would you want to completely deprive your own children of occasional luxuries because you fell down on your luck? Having received food stamps during hard times over the last 25 years of raising my only family, I am thankful that I could feed my family and still offer them an occasional treat during those times of crisis. Every individual has their own dietary needs and restrictions. As a sufferer of celiac disease and milk allergy, I am so glad that I still have the freedom to select the items that best meet my budget and dietary needs regardless of the form of payment. Long live freedom.
Food stamps stimulate the economy?
I can’t even begin to unpack that in my comments.
I have never been on foodstamps or any kind of assistance. But I get a kick out of gown many people are so concerned about this topic. Yes its our tax money, but a tiny, tiny percent of it compared to other things the goverment uses “our” money. Why don’t people get worked worked up about our elected politician’s flying first class, staying in first class hotels, giving there buddies millions of dollars for there windmills which go unbuilt, our goverment spending billions on a satilite that will let us know that mars is rather hot. So many more things to bitch about. A lot of people are on that because they have know where else to go, some are abusing it also and should be dealt with but what is wrong with a.poor mother buying her kids a soda or popsicles? I’m sure you buy your kids those things. I never even knew there was controversy over this until I was in line at an h.e.b and this “man” was giving a lady a hard time about using lonestar card she was embarrased her kids were there and he was extremely rude and vulgar, until I kindly asked him to stop or get knocked out where he stands. That is when I looked it up and even came across videos, blogs blah blah blah, some people need to get a life or get a little more involved in politics and make change. P.s a lot of military spouses are on food stamps so think about that before you try humiliating people. Had to get all that off my chest, thank you
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