[Karah Rucker]

ARKANSAS GOVERNOR SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS CALLING FOR A BAN ON BUYING JUNK FOOD WITH FOOD STAMPS … ALIGNING WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S INITIATIVE OF “MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN.”

SANDERS SENT A LETTER TO THE INCOMING HEALTH AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS ASKING FOR A WAIVER TO REFORM THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – ALSO KNOWN AS SNAP.

THE PROGRAM ALLOWS LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO BUY A LARGE VARIETY FOODS, BUT SANDERS CITES A STUDY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THAT SHOWS ALMOST 23 PERCENT OF SNAP HOUSEHOLD’S GROCERY BILL IS SPENT ON UNHEALTHIER FOODS LIKE CANDY, SNACKS, DESSERT AND SODA … WRITING IN THE LETTER …

“UNFORTUNATELY, THIS NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS UNDERMINING THE HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, ON THE TAXPAYER’S DIME, BY ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO EAT HIGHLY PROCESSED, UNHEALTHY JUNK FOOD. 

GIVEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JUNK FOOD AND POOR HEALTH, OUR FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE POLICIES ARE FUELING OBESITY, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, AND A WIDE RANGE OF CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS ACROSS AMERICA.

SANDERS ALSO MENTIONED A STUDY BY STANFORD UNIVERSITY THAT FOUND TAKING AWAY SUGARY DRINKS AND SODA FROM SNAP WOULD PREVENT OBESITY IN 141-THOUSAND CHILDREN AND TYPE 2 DIABETES IN 240-THOUSAND ADULTS.

THE CONVERSATION AROUND RESTRICTING SNAP PURCHASES HAS BEEN DEBATED FOR YEARS … WITH PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT IT SAYING THE PROGRAM SHOULD MORE CLOSELY ALIGN WITH ITS ORIGINAL GOAL OF IMPROVING NUTRITION OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

WHILE PEOPLE AGAINST THE RESTRICTIONS SAY … IT WOULD BE TOO COMPLICATED TO CATEGORIZE FOODS AS “HEALTHY” AND “UNHEALTHY.”

ROBERT F KENNEDY JUNIOR …LINED UP TO LEAD TRUMP’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HUMAN SERVICE IS LIKELY TO BE RECEPTIVE OF SANDERS’ PROPOSAL … AS HE RECENTLY INTRODUCED HIS “MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN” MOVEMENT FOCUSED ON HEALTHIER FOOD AMERICA AND IS VOWING TO CRACK DOWN ON FOOD DYES AND PESTICIDES.

FOR SAN – I’M KARAH RUCKER. 

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