USDA favors access to more healthy foods – Gainesville Sun

<p>The Agriculture Department unveiled brand-new rules last Tuesday 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.</p><p>The proposed rules are created to make sure that the a lot more compared to 46 million Americans that use meals stamps have actually much better access to healthy and balanced meals despite the fact that they don’t dictate just what individuals buy or eat. A person using meals stamp dollars could still purchase as much junk meals as they wanted, yet they would certainly at least have actually a lot more choices in the store to buy fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats and bread.</p><p>”USDA is committed to expanding access for SNAP participants to the types of meals that are crucial 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.”</p><p>In 2014, Congress called for the Agriculture Department to produce regulations to make certain that stores that accept meals stamp dollars, now called the Supplemental nourishment Help Program, or SNAP, stock a wider array of healthy and balanced meals choices.</p><p>Under current rules, SNAP retailers should 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 retailers to stock seven varieties in each meals group, and at least three of the meals groups would certainly have actually to include perishable items. In all, the rules would certainly require stores to stock at least 168 items that USDA considers healthy.</p><p>The proposal would certainly additionally require that retailers have actually enough in stock of each item so that the meals would certainly be continuously available.</p><p>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, enjoy overnight. Concannon said the department would certainly attempt to make sure that the rules don’t affect SNAP recipients’ access to meals retailers, and the department could think of waiving the proposed requirements in some areas.</p><p>The rules come as a vital Residence 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 last Thursday that would certainly enable states to require drug testing. The move is created to assistance states enjoy Wisconsin, where Gov. Scott Walker has actually sued the federal government, to permit screening.</p><p>USDA has actually pushed spine on such efforts, as it did as quickly as 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.</p><p>”While I have actually not seen Rep. Aderholt’s proposed legislation, I have actually serious pertains to concerning an approach that could deprive a family of access to meals and simple necessities merely since a member of the family is struggling along with addiction,” Vilsack said after Aderholt introduced the bill.</p><p> </p><p><b>Longevity gap</b></p><p>Guns, drugs and cars contribute substantially to the life-expectancy gap between the United States and various other created nations, a study found.</p><p>Deaths from old-age ailments sometimes grab a lot more attention in longevity research, yet deaths from these three triggers tend to happen at younger ages, contributing to lots of decades of life lost, the researchers said.</p><p>Data from the Centers for Disease Regulate and Prevention prove to injuries including violence, vehicle crashes and drug poisonings and overdoses are the leading create of deaths for Americans up to the age of 44.</p><p>Gun deaths were a major factor among men: The U.S. fee was 18.4 such deaths per 100,000 men, versus 1 per 100,000 in the comparison countries.</p><p>Among women, drug-related deaths explained most of the injury-related difference: the U.S. fee was 10 per 100,000 women versus fewer compared to 2 per 100,000 among women in comparison countries.</p><p>The researchers’ estimates are based on an analysis of 2012 data from the U.S. government and the Globe good health Organization.</p><p>The study bolsters the argument that enhancing U.S. life expectancy will certainly require addressing premature deaths among younger ages, said Jessica Ho, a Duke University sociologist that has actually done similar research.</p><p>Strengthening U.S. gun laws, making safer cars and addressing the root triggers of drug use, including income inequality, are among policies that may help, she said.</p>