Posted on Jun 5, 2019
How A Fight Over Beef Jerky Reveals Tensions Over SNAP In The Trump Era
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For roughly 40 million Americans, SNAP benefits are a lifeline.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, delivers about $60 billion in aid each year. And retailers that accept SNAP benefits are required to stock a variety of staple foods — including a minimum number of fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy and grain options.
Now, there's a controversy brewing over which foods count as staples. Should beef jerky, spray cheese and queso dip count? The Trump administration has proposed a rule that would allow retailers to include these items.
"The Trump administration would weaken what stores would have to offer," says Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. She says this could result in fewer healthy options in convenience and corner stores where SNAP recipients spend about $3 billion in benefits each year.
A rule written during the Obama administration would require retailers to stock at least seven different products in each of four key food categories — fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy and grains.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, delivers about $60 billion in aid each year. And retailers that accept SNAP benefits are required to stock a variety of staple foods — including a minimum number of fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy and grain options.
Now, there's a controversy brewing over which foods count as staples. Should beef jerky, spray cheese and queso dip count? The Trump administration has proposed a rule that would allow retailers to include these items.
"The Trump administration would weaken what stores would have to offer," says Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. She says this could result in fewer healthy options in convenience and corner stores where SNAP recipients spend about $3 billion in benefits each year.
A rule written during the Obama administration would require retailers to stock at least seven different products in each of four key food categories — fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy and grains.
How A Fight Over Beef Jerky Reveals Tensions Over SNAP In The Trump Era
Posted from npr.org
Food/Chow
Poverty
Donald Trump
White House
Posted >1 y ago
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My mother used food stamps growing up, and my wife and I and our kids use food stamps now (SNAP). There's still tension in how we, the U.S., treat the poor in general society. If I'm checking out at the store and people see my SNAP card, they always look over what I'm buying, and I assume, judge me and my whole situation. Whether it's what I am buying or what I am not buying.
More could be said, but the point is that having spent half of my life in poverty, poor people are often disrespected, restricted, and regulated.
Shouldn't a poor person be able to buy some beef jerky with their SNAP card? Why impose a dietary restriction on them, but not on the average middle class person who has plenty of money, but eats the same stuff that is labeled unhealthy? The bureaucratic imposition seems unbalanced. In my experience, "classism" always feels like a problem in our welfare policies. There's more to this conversation than just regulating healthy options in the food market.
More could be said, but the point is that having spent half of my life in poverty, poor people are often disrespected, restricted, and regulated.
Shouldn't a poor person be able to buy some beef jerky with their SNAP card? Why impose a dietary restriction on them, but not on the average middle class person who has plenty of money, but eats the same stuff that is labeled unhealthy? The bureaucratic imposition seems unbalanced. In my experience, "classism" always feels like a problem in our welfare policies. There's more to this conversation than just regulating healthy options in the food market.
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