We recently talked about Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal to prevent NYC food stamp recipients from using government dollars to purchase soda for two years, while a study is conducted to see if this move improves health. The post stimulated some interesting reader discussion, which I encourage you to read.
I wasn’t intending to discuss this issue again, but through Chef Ann’s Twitter feed I came across this thoughtful piece by Andy Fisher of Civil Eats (and reposted by Marion Nestle on Food Politics). Fisher describes how anti-hunger and public health advocates find themselves at odds over the issue, ignoring the fact that:
The real story behind food stamps is that it is neither a nutrition program nor an income support program. It is a massive subsidy for the food retailers, grocery manufacturers, and industrial growers. That is why commodity groups, the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the Food Marketing Institute all line up behind the food stamp program every five years when the Farm Bill is being debated. They know the extra buying power food stamps provides to low income Americans will end up in their pockets.
His proposal? Let Bloomberg execute the plan, but redirect “the $75-$135 million that would have otherwise been spent on soda to programs that encourage food stamp recipients to purchase locally grown foods at farmers markets, community supported agriculture farms, and other community-oriented venues.”
Read the full article here.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by laurie niles, Bettina Siegel. Bettina Siegel said: @CivilEats – meant to post last week — more on food stamps and soda. http://bit.ly/bvKQnt #foodrevolution […]