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SNAP bans on soda, candy and other foods take effect in five states Jan. 1 (apnews.com)

submitted 1 day ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/progressivepolitics@lemmy.world

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Starting Thursday, Americans in five states who get government help paying for groceries will see new restrictions on soda, candy and other foods they can buy with those benefits.

Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia are the first of at least 18 states to enact waivers prohibiting the purchase of certain foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

It’s part of a push by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to urge states to strip foods regarded as unhealthy from the $100 billion federal program -- long known as food stamps -- that serves 42 million Americans.

“We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create,” Kennedy said in a statement in December.

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[–] ccunning@lemmy.world 27 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Or flour, butter, and sugar to make a birthday cake?…

…and if we let them get their hands on unadulterated sugar and butter, who knows what luxuries they could make on their own; hidden from our oversight. Don’t they know they’re poor? Don’t they know their place?

They’re practically making us do this to them…

[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 8 points 1 day ago

Should probably ban bottled water, since it's practically free from the faucet.

Seed oil is unhealthy and should be banned. Only tallow fat.

Organic foods are luxury items with standard counterparts.

Dehydrated milk flakes are a better use of money than expensive liquid milk. (That actually used to be a thing!)

Only store brands are allowed, unless there is none available. A designated overseer must be appointed at each place of business.

Eventually, only vouchers will be provided (again) so that specific items can be purchased. To be considered for the list, please apply at FDA.gov/fat cats.