Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham believes preventing SNAP recipients from using their food stamps to purchase soft drinks, energy drinks and candy will make for a healthier Louisiana. That new policy will go into effect in January and Abraham says a good portion of government assistance is going towards the purchase of these items.
“Up to 20% of SNAP benefits were being spent on the things you just mentioned that are now, or will be, banned,” Abraham said.
Abraham says the big concern is that SNAP recipients are using their government assistance to buy their children soda and candy.
“If we don’t correct that child’s eating habits, getting a better lifestyle, then 100% of the time there’s going to be bad health outcomes downrange for that poor child,” Abraham warned.
Abraham says candy and soda are high in sugar and too much of it, becomes a bad thing.
“We all have to have a little bit of sugar to maintain our metabolism. But, to your point, You know, a little good is good. Lots – not by any stretch of the mean,” Abraham said.
Abraham says once you reach a certain level, sugar gets stored as fat.
Last week, USDA Secretary Brooke Collins signed a SNAP waiver for Louisiana that removes soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy as eligible food items. This will go into effect in January.
