WASHINGTON (AP) — The Agriculture Department unveiled brand-new rules on Feb. 16 that would certainly force retailers that accept meals stamps to stock a wider variety of healthy and balanced meals or face the loss of business as consumers shop elsewhere.
The U.S. Department of Agriiculture prefers meals stamp recipients to have actually much better access to healthy and balanced foods. Photo by Aremafoto
The proposed rules are created to guarantee that the a lot more compared to 46 million Americans that use meals stamps have actually much better access to healthy and balanced meals even though they don’t dictate exactly what individuals buy or eat. A person using meals stamp dollars could still purchase as much junk meals as they wanted, however they would certainly at least have actually a lot more selections in the store to buy fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats and bread.
“USDA is committed to expanding access for SNAP participants to the types of meals that are essential to a healthy and balanced diet,” Kevin Concannon, USDA undersecretary for food, nourishment and consumer services, said in a statement. “This proposed rule ensures that retailers that accept SNAP benefits offer a variety of products to support healthy and balanced selections for those participating in the program.”
In 2014, Congress called for the Agriculture Department to create regulations to guarantee that stores that accept meals stamp dollars, now called the Supplemental nourishment Insight Program, or SNAP, stock a wider array of healthy and balanced meals choices.
Under current rules, SNAP retailers ought to stock at least three varieties of meals in each of four meals groups: fruits and vegetables, dairy, breads and cereals, and meats, poultry and fish. The brand-new rules would certainly require the retailers to stock seven varieties in each meals group, and at least three of the meals groups would certainly have actually to contain perishable items. In all, the rules would certainly require stores to stock at least 168 items that USDA considers healthy.
The proposal would certainly likewise require that retailers have actually enough in stock of each item so that the meals would certainly be continuously available.
The rules could mean that fewer convenience stores qualify to be SNAP retailers. The convenience store industry has actually argued that it frequently operates the only stores that serve certain neighborhoods and at certain times, love overnight. Concannon said the department would certainly attempt to guarantee that the rules don’t affect SNAP recipients’ access to meals retailers, and the department could think about waiving the proposed requirements in some areas.
The rules come as a essential Home Republican is pushing for drug examinations for meals stamp recipients and brand-new cuts to the program. Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt, the chairman of the subcommittee that oversees USDA spending, introduced a bill on Feb. 11 that would certainly enable states to require drug testing. The move is created to recommendations states love Wisconsin, where Gov. Scott Walker has actually sued the federal government, to permit screening.
USDA has actually pushed spine on such efforts, as it did once Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to cut 5 percent from the program throughout negotiations over the 2014 farm bill. The push comes as SNAP use has actually skyrocketed — the program served a lot more compared to 46 million Americans and cost $74 billion last year. That’s two times the program’s 2008 cost.
“While I have actually not seen Rep. Aderholt’s proposed legislation, I have actually major involves concerning an approach that could deprive a family of access to meals and easy necessities just due to the fact that a member of the family is struggling along with addiction,” Vilsack said after Aderholt introduced the bill.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press
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