(Newsyndicate): New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to stop New York City residents who get Food Stamp benefits (now called the SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to stop putting soda and other sugary soft drinks on the city's pay tab.
It was proposed in 2004 in Minnesota, but rejected because it perpetuated the stereotype that people who get SNAP benefits don't make healthy eating and living choices. The proposal was received well at New York Governor Paterson's office, but the USDA needs to approve before the ban can go into effect.
Right now, SNAP benefit receivers can buy almost anything in the store, except for paper goods, cleaning supplies, pet food, aluminum/tin foil, alcohol, cigarettes/tobacco, medicine and hot or cold prepared ready-to-eat foods (such as coleslaw, soup, pasta salads). If the USDA approved Bloomberg's proposal, the status of which is unknown, then those benefit receivers could no longer use their SNAP card to buy drinks with over ten calories per eight ounces. This means customers could still buy diet sodas and drinks, milk, milk substitutes (soy milk, rice milk, powdered milk, etc.) and 100% fruit juice.
The ban would have a trial period of two years. The city's thinking is simple: by reducing the number of soft drinks consumed, they could curb obesity and diabetes.
Sources:
NYCity News Service Article
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