Latest news with #FoodResearchandActionCenter
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arkansas asks USDA to let it ban soda and candy from SNAP
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas officials moved Tuesday to ban soft drinks and candy from the program that helps low-income people pay for groceries, becoming the first state to ask the Trump administration to let it restrict such items from the program long known as food stamps. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the request is aimed at improving the health of nearly 350,000 Arkansas residents who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. 'It is clear that the current system encourages and subsidizes the overconsumption of unhealthy, highly processed and addictive food and beverages,' said Sanders, who announced the request at a Little Rock news conference with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. American taxpayers 'deserve a say in what the program funds,' Rollins said. The Arkansas plan, which would take effect in July 2026, would exclude soda, including no- and low-calorie soda; fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice; 'unhealthy drinks;' candy, including confections made with flour, like Kit Kat bars; and artificially sweetened candy. It also would allow participants to use benefits to buy hot rotisserie chicken, which is excluded from the program now. Arkansas is among nearly a dozen states seeking to strip the purchase of certain foods that may contribute to poor health through the federal program that spent $100 billion to serve nearly 42 million Americans in 2024. The restriction has been a key goal for Rollins and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda. 'We shouldn't be subsidizing people to eat poison,' Kennedy said in a February interview on Fox News. Anti-hunger groups oppose the restrictions, saying that research shows that SNAP participants are no more likely that other low-income Americans to buy sugary drinks or snack foods. And they say that limiting food choices undermines the autonomy and dignity of people who receive a benefit of about $187 per month — or about $6.20 per day. 'They just seem to be targeting a specific population without having data that says that they are the issue or that this is going to improve,' said Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit advocacy group. The SNAP program is run by the USDA and administered through individual states. It is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says that SNAP benefits can be used for 'any food or food product intended for human consumption,' except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods. In general, benefits are available to households with gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, or about $33,500 a year for three people. Excluding any foods would require Congress to change the law — or for states to get waivers that would let them restrict purchases, said Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research group. Over the past two decades, lawmakers in several states and from both political parties have proposed halting SNAP payments for soda, chips, ice cream and 'luxury meats' like steak, as well as bottled water and decorated birthday cakes. Since 2004, there have been six previous requests for waivers, including four that were not approved, one that was withdrawn and one request that was incomplete. In rejecting the waivers, the USDA said there was no clear standard to define certain foods as unhealthy and that restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated, costly and might not change participants' food purchases or improve health. After submitting the waiver to USDA, Arkansas will allow 30 days for public comment. ___ Aleccia reported from California. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Arkansas asks USDA to let it ban soda and candy from SNAP
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas officials moved Tuesday to ban soft drinks and candy from the program that helps low-income people pay for groceries, becoming the first state to ask the Trump administration to let it restrict such items from the program long known as food stamps. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the request is aimed at improving the health of nearly 350,000 Arkansas residents who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. 'It is clear that the current system encourages and subsidizes the overconsumption of unhealthy, highly processed and addictive food and beverages,' said Sanders, who announced the request at a Little Rock news conference with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. American taxpayers 'deserve a say in what the program funds,' Rollins said. The Arkansas plan, which would take effect in July 2026, would exclude soda, including no- and low-calorie soda; fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice; 'unhealthy drinks;' candy, including confections made with flour, like Kit Kat bars; and artificially sweetened candy. It also would allow participants to use benefits to buy hot rotisserie chicken, which is excluded from the program now. Arkansas is among nearly a dozen states seeking to strip the purchase of certain foods that may contribute to poor health through the federal program that spent $100 billion to serve nearly 42 million Americans in 2024. The restriction has been a key goal for Rollins and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda. 'We shouldn't be subsidizing people to eat poison,' Kennedy said in a February interview on Fox News. Anti-hunger groups oppose the restrictions, saying that research shows that SNAP participants are no more likely that other low-income Americans to buy sugary drinks or snack foods. And they say that limiting food choices undermines the autonomy and dignity of people who receive a benefit of about $187 per month — or about $6.20 per day. 'They just seem to be targeting a specific population without having data that says that they are the issue or that this is going to improve,' said Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit advocacy group. The SNAP program is run by the USDA and administered through individual states. It is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says that SNAP benefits can be used for 'any food or food product intended for human consumption,' except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods. In general, benefits are available to households with gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, or about $33,500 a year for three people. Excluding any foods would require Congress to change the law — or for states to get waivers that would let them restrict purchases, said Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research group. Over the past two decades, lawmakers in several states and from both political parties have proposed halting SNAP payments for soda, chips, ice cream and 'luxury meats' like steak, as well as bottled water and decorated birthday cakes. Since 2004, there have been six previous requests for waivers, including four that were not approved, one that was withdrawn and one request that was incomplete. In rejecting the waivers, the USDA said there was no clear standard to define certain foods as unhealthy and that restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated, costly and might not change participants' food purchases or improve health. After submitting the waiver to USDA, Arkansas will allow 30 days for public comment. ___ Aleccia reported from California. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Arkansas asks USDA to let it ban soda and candy from SNAP
Arkansas officials moved Tuesday to ban soft drinks and candy from the program that helps low-income people pay for groceries, becoming the first state to ask the Trump administration to let it restrict such items from the program long known as food stamps. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the request is aimed at improving the health of nearly 350,000 Arkansas residents who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. 'It is clear that the current system encourages and subsidizes the overconsumption of unhealthy, highly processed and addictive food and beverages,' said Sanders, who announced the request at a Little Rock news conference with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. American taxpayers 'deserve a say in what the program funds,' Rollins said. The Arkansas plan, which would take effect in July 2026, would exclude soda, including no- and low-calorie soda; fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice; 'unhealthy drinks;' candy, including confections made with flour, like Kit Kat bars; and artificially sweetened candy. It also would allow participants to use benefits to buy hot rotisserie chicken, which is excluded from the program now. Arkansas is among nearly a dozen states seeking to strip the purchase of certain foods that may contribute to poor health through the federal program that spent $100 billion to serve nearly 42 million Americans in 2024. The restriction has been a key goal for Rollins and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda. 'We shouldn't be subsidizing people to eat poison,' Kennedy said in a February interview on Fox News. Anti-hunger groups oppose the restrictions, saying that research shows that SNAP participants are no more likely that other low-income Americans to buy sugary drinks or snack foods. And they say that limiting food choices undermines the autonomy and dignity of people who receive a benefit of about $187 per month — or about $6.20 per day. 'They just seem to be targeting a specific population without having data that says that they are the issue or that this is going to improve,' said Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit advocacy group. The SNAP program is run by the USDA and administered through individual states. It is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says that SNAP benefits can be used for 'any food or food product intended for human consumption,' except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods. In general, benefits are available to households with gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, or about $33,500 a year for three people. Excluding any foods would require Congress to change the law — or for states to get waivers that would let them restrict purchases, said Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research group. Over the past two decades, lawmakers in several states and from both political parties have proposed halting SNAP payments for soda, chips, ice cream and 'luxury meats' like steak, as well as bottled water and decorated birthday cakes. Since 2004, there have been six previous requests for waivers, including four that were not approved, one that was withdrawn and one request that was incomplete. In rejecting the waivers, the USDA said there was no clear standard to define certain foods as unhealthy and that restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated, costly and might not change participants' food purchases or improve health. After submitting the waiver to USDA, Arkansas will allow 30 days for public comment. ___ Aleccia reported from California. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
CBS News
03-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Study shows the consequences of budget cuts to SNAP in Minnesota
As lawmakers in Washington consider a budget proposal to slash taxes, advocates in Minnesota are warning of the potential for devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands in the state. The non-partisan Food Research and Action Center says more than 458,000 Minnesotans rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to put food on the table. The non-profit says SNAP also offers nine meals to every one that a local pantry can provide. The FRAC study also found that among the Minnesota households relying on SNAP benefits: 45% are with children 49% are with a person with a disability 35% have older adults in them 10,989 veterans rely on SNAP The CEO of Second Harvest Heartland, Allison O'Toole, says she fears the impact of potential SNAP cuts during the budget talks in Washington. "We've seen food insecurity rates skyrocket in the last 4 years. We're at an all-time high right now," said O'Toole. "We are in a hunger crisis already. If these proposals are enacted, it'll be catastrophic." To do her part, O'Toole is flying to Washington, D.C. this week to meet with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and the House Committee on Agriculture to advocate for hunger relief policy. "I'm making a special trip [on Monday] because it's a critical time," said O'Toole. While cuts are not official yet, O'Toole hopes people will give money, food donations or service hours to Minnesota food shelves to prepare for what's a possibility. "This is a solvable issue and if there's one state that can do it, it is ours. We just need everyone to join forces to make sure we can do it," said O'Toole.
