Nebraska has become the first state to obtain a Federal exemption. In Soda and energy drinks are banned under the Benefits Program for Low-Income Americans, commonly known as Food Stamps.
This announcement, made on Monday by US Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins, affects around 152,000 residents in Nebraska. The Supplementary Nutrition Support Program, or SNAP, will now assist families in purchasing groceries.
“There's no justification for taxpayers to subsidize the purchase of soda and energy drinks,” Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen stated. “SNAP is designed to help families in need access healthy food, but the items we are removing in today's exemption offer no nutritional value.”
Additionally, six other states—Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, and West Virginia—have also requested exemptions to prohibit certain food and beverage items, according to the USDA.
The initiative to eliminate sugary drinks, candies, and similar products from the SNAP program has been a primary focus for Rollins and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Rollins described Monday's action as “a historic step towards improving America’s health.”
Details regarding the Nebraska exemption, set to take effect on January 1st, were not immediately available. Critics argue that this move will incur additional costs, create management challenges, and heighten the stigma faced by individuals already struggling with food insecurity.
The exemption “overlooks years of evidence indicating that an incentive-based approach, rather than punitive restrictions, is the most effective and respectful method to enhance nutrition and alleviate hunger,” stated Gina Platanino, associate director of the Center for Food Research and Action, a nonprofit advocacy group.
SNAP, a program worth approximately $100 billion, serves around 42 million Americans, operated by the U.S. Agriculture Bureau and managed at the state level.
The program is authorized by the 2008 Federal Food and Nutrition Act, which stipulates that “in foods or foods intended for human consumption” can be used, barring alcohol, tobacco, and hot foods.
Over the last two decades, legislators from various states have proposed measures to restrict SNAP from covering a wide array of items, ranging from bottled water and soda to “luxurious foods” like chips, ice cream, and steak.
So far, the USDA has denied these exemptions, asserting that there is no clear way to classify certain foods as healthy or unhealthy. Moreover, the agency noted that implementing such restrictions would be complex, costly, and might not significantly alter purchasing habits or reduce health issues such as obesity.
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Source: apnews.com