rockin'robin
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Mae Walker uses food stamps to buy what she needs at her neighborhood market.
She likes the freedom of choosing her favorite snacks and is frustrated lawmakers might limit her options.
"Cupcakes, soda, candy -- that's food, so why should they do something like that?" Walker said.
Lawmakers are considering a bill to prevent poorer people from purchasing unhealthy foods with government assistance. As a result, snack foods may be stripped from the list of groceries people on food stamps can buy at the store.
The bill has already passed through a House subcommittee.
Its goal is to promote health and well-being. But store owners who sell the items say it's unfair to control what shoppers can buy.
"By it being unhealthy or healthy, that's up to the people to decide," store manager Tony Khazal said. "I don't think it's up to the government."
In Florida, food stamps are distributed by the Department of Children and Families, which said the program is already designed strictly to help needy families.
"Right now in Duval County, one out of every three children are being helped by food stamps," DCF spokesman John Harrell said. "We're talking about the necessities of life here. If not for this program, then children and families might go hungry."
According to DCF, the number of food stamp recipients has dramatically increased in Duval County over the last five years.
In 2006, just more than 100,000 people were receiving benefits. Now, that number has more than doubled to about 230,000 people.
Proposal aims to ban food stamp users from buying unhealthy food
There have always been restrictions on certain items that are not considered food, such as tobacco, alcohol or vitamins.
Those like Walker say it's unfair to take junk foods off the table, too.
If the bill passes, it's up to the federal government to decide whether or not to allow the state to put the restrictions in place.
Among the items some lawmakers would like to ban are soda, chips and sweets. For example, a cupcake is 180 calories, contains 7 grams of fat, 29 grams of carbohydrates and 240 milligrams of sodium. Its main ingredients are sugar, high fructose corn syrup and chocolate.
Bill: No snacks for food stamp users | News - Home
She likes the freedom of choosing her favorite snacks and is frustrated lawmakers might limit her options.
"Cupcakes, soda, candy -- that's food, so why should they do something like that?" Walker said.
Lawmakers are considering a bill to prevent poorer people from purchasing unhealthy foods with government assistance. As a result, snack foods may be stripped from the list of groceries people on food stamps can buy at the store.
The bill has already passed through a House subcommittee.
Its goal is to promote health and well-being. But store owners who sell the items say it's unfair to control what shoppers can buy.
"By it being unhealthy or healthy, that's up to the people to decide," store manager Tony Khazal said. "I don't think it's up to the government."
In Florida, food stamps are distributed by the Department of Children and Families, which said the program is already designed strictly to help needy families.
"Right now in Duval County, one out of every three children are being helped by food stamps," DCF spokesman John Harrell said. "We're talking about the necessities of life here. If not for this program, then children and families might go hungry."
According to DCF, the number of food stamp recipients has dramatically increased in Duval County over the last five years.
In 2006, just more than 100,000 people were receiving benefits. Now, that number has more than doubled to about 230,000 people.
Proposal aims to ban food stamp users from buying unhealthy food
There have always been restrictions on certain items that are not considered food, such as tobacco, alcohol or vitamins.
Those like Walker say it's unfair to take junk foods off the table, too.
If the bill passes, it's up to the federal government to decide whether or not to allow the state to put the restrictions in place.
Among the items some lawmakers would like to ban are soda, chips and sweets. For example, a cupcake is 180 calories, contains 7 grams of fat, 29 grams of carbohydrates and 240 milligrams of sodium. Its main ingredients are sugar, high fructose corn syrup and chocolate.
Bill: No snacks for food stamp users | News - Home
