LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Florida is about to limit what people can buy with SNAP, the federal food assistance program that helps people purchase food.
Soda, candy and some processed desserts are about to be off the menu for people on SNAP. It’s part of a new push from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve the nation’s health.
“We should be spending our taxpayer money on nutrition and not things that cause negative health benefits,” David Bailey said.
Multiple states have already cut these items off SNAP. On Monday, so will Florida.
“I applaud an effort and an awareness to stem chronic illness and promote healthy eating,” said Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, executive director of Our Daily Bread food pantry in Marco Island.
Rossetti-Ryan leads Our Daily Bread food pantry on Marco Island. She said her clients are hungry for fresh fruit and vegetables, but she’s also concerned the cuts come without more access to healthy options.
“How can we make SNAP benefits go further for folks? So I think just by cutting, you’re not really addressing the whole equation,” Rossetti-Ryan said.
The move has gotten mixed reactions. Rhonda Youngblood volunteers at a food pantry, and she’s okay with it.
“I believe that we should help people, but I don’t believe it should be buying junk food,” Youngblood said.
Ryan Dewitt works in food logistics. He says the cuts come at a bad time.
“Cost of living and rising not only with housing incomes, just in general, I think people have to eat ultimately at the end of the day,” Dewitt said.
Joel Berg is CEO of Hunger Free America. He points out that SNAP can still buy unhealthy food items like high-calorie sports drinks and bakery products like pies and donuts.
“These are totally arbitrary,” Berg said.
“These have nothing to do with nutrition science,” Berg said. “It’s another way of punishing poor people for being poor.”
The Trump administration said this move saves taxpayer dollars and improves nutrition. The change goes into effect on Monday.