Florida Lawmakers Should Not Restrict "Unhealthy" Food Stamp Purchases

COMMENTARY | According to the Sun-Sentinel, two lawmakers are sponsoring legislation that will prohibit Floridians from using food stamps to purchase various snack foods and beverages. This misguided effort does not consider the limitations of an impoverished lifestyle or the complexities of implementing and enforcing the proposed changes. It also erroneously assumes certain foods are unhealthy for everyone.

Limited Resources, Limited Options

Earning a low income can significantly affect areas other than the grocery budget. Living in a motel, temporarily staying with different family members and friends or living out of a car can mean limited or no access to a kitchen with traditional food storage and cooking options. Ready-to-eat foods like gelatin cups and salty snacks are reasonable menu choices because they are affordable, filling and widely available.

Emergencies and natural disasters, like hurricanes, can limit access to food and beverages. The additional food stamp restrictions create undue hardships. Ultimately, so-called unhealthy foods are sometimes the most nutritious and fiscally responsible options for someone using food stamps to survive.

Restricted Foods

One problem with Minnesota's failed attempt to pass similar legislation in 2004 was the application of the restrictions. According to the USDA, its rules restricted Hershey candy bars, but the cookie-based Kit Kat and Twix bars were unrestricted because they included flour.

House Bill 1401 is similarly flawed because it does not have clear nutrition guidelines and instead lists foods such as "sweetened beverages, including sodas; sweets, such as jello, candy, ice cream, pudding, popsicles, muffins, sweet rolls, cakes, cupcakes, pies, cobblers, pastries, and doughnuts; and salty snack foods, such as corn-based salty snacks, pretzels, party mix, popcorn, and potato chips."

Although the Department of Children and Family Services will need to somehow refine the list to include specific items, the current target includes broad categories of foods, such as muffins and popcorn, that are not necessarily unhealthy or deficient in nutrients. It also assumes that the restricted foods are detrimental to everyone. However, individuals who are malnourished, underweight or have genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis may require diets high in calories, fat and/or salt.

Execution Costs

Changing the food stamp program requires additional training and updates for the service providers, retailers and benefit recipients. Stores will need to update the cash register systems to comply with Florida's regulations. There is also a question of how much it will cost DCF to generate and maintain a current list of unapproved foods. Undoubtedly, taxpayers and consumers will pay the cost in cash and food stamps.