Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is calling for a ban on buying junk food with food stamps. Sanders sent a letter to the incoming Health and Agriculture 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 of foods. However, Sanders cites a study from the Department of Agriculture that shows almost 23% of a SNAP household’s grocery bill is spent on unhealthier foods like candy, snacks, desserts and soda.
“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,” Sanders wrote in the letter.
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Sanders went on to say, “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 141,000 children and Type 2 diabetes in 240,000 adults.
Debate over junk food and food stamps
The conversation around restricting SNAP purchases has been debated for years. People who support it say the program should more closely align with its original goal of improving nutrition amongst low-income families.
Meanwhile, people against the restrictions say it would be too complicated to categorize foods as “healthy” and “unhealthy.”
“Make America Healthy Again”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is lined up to lead President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services, is likely to be receptive to Sanders’ proposal.
He recently introduced his “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which is focused on increasing access to healthier food. He is also vowing to crack down on food dyes and pesticides.
