We’re Using SNAP Dollars to Buy Junk Food, and It’s Fueling America’s Chronic Disease Crisis

Originally Published by Townhall

As mothers and professionals who work in wellness, we are celebrating a major step forward for the health of Americans who receive food assistance. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has approved new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food choice waivers in six states: Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah. These states have taken a major step towards ensuring the health of their citizens, no matter their financial situation or circumstances, and three more executive actions are on the way, as announced by Texas, Louisiana, and West Virginia.

While we certainly celebrate, there’s a major issue that few people know about.

SNAP is funded by federal tax dollars but administered by state governments, and states can make changes by submitting waivers to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Revising what SNAP recipients can or can’t buy with taxpayer dollars is one such change.

Most states don’t encourage families to purchase healthy food while they’re receiving federal assistance. The governments of these nine states have decided to prioritize the health of their citizens by requiring SNAP recipients to purchase only nutritious and healthy foods.

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