Amna Nawaz:
This year, 22 states across the nation are altering what foods can be purchased with food assistance benefits. The new regulations aim to eliminate sugary foods and beverages, a key aspect of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
Geoff Bennett:
However, advocates are concerned that these changes may reduce food availability for individuals in need.
Stephanie Sy:
Stephanie Sy traveled to Texas, where a recent ban was introduced, to explore how these changes impact both families and local businesses.
Sara Kenefake:
At a modest home in Garland, Texas, a line extends out the door and down the sidewalk. Each weekday, Good Samaritans of Garland serves approximately 300 families at its food pantry.
Sara Kenefake:
Food is what draws them in, as hunger dominates their thoughts and bodies.
Stephanie Sy:
Sara Kenefake, the pantry’s executive director, notes that many individuals rely on the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to buy groceries. Yet, this assistance often falls short, prompting many to turn to the pantry for additional support.
The average SNAP recipient in Texas receives about $6 per day.
Sara Kenefake:
Take a look at our economy; costs are escalating, but wages and SNAP benefits remain stagnant.
Stephanie Sy:
As of this month, SNAP benefits in Texas can no longer be used to purchase sweetened beverages such as soda or items regarded as candy. This type of restriction is a foundation of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again plan.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health Secretary:
We are not providing our children with nutritious food. Taxpayer dollars should not be financing these detrimental choices. We end up paying twice: first through the SNAP program and later with the health costs of diabetes and obesity.
Stephanie Sy:
Twenty-one other states are implementing similar restrictions, but the rollout has been challenging in some areas. In Texas, many SNAP users find the new guidelines confusing.
For instance, one SNAP recipient reported needing to buy energy drinks for her children during sports activities. However, due to 17 grams of added sugar, she can no longer use her benefits for these items.
Britanny Quick, Former SNAP Recipient:
I’ve heard from friends that their transactions were declined at checkout, leaving them to figure out which items were not covered.
Stephanie Sy:
What does this mean for consumers at the register?
Britanny Quick:
It’s incredibly embarrassing when you don’t have the cash to pay. I’ve been in that situation—what do you put back? How do you decide?
Stephanie Sy:
Garland resident Britanny Quick visits Good Samaritans bi-weekly. Having used SNAP for years to help feed her family of four, she worries that these changes will limit special occasion treats.
Britanny Quick:
I’ve reminded others that the ban is coming soon. For those using SNAP to help buy Easter baskets, purchase those items before the 30th. Many people weren’t even aware of this change.
Stephanie Sy:
She emphasizes that regulators may not have fully considered the implications of these changes.
Britanny Quick:
If my child feels sick, I reach for Sprite or ginger ale to keep fluids in them.
Stacie Ellis, Excellis Nutrition:
I believe these items are quite harmful to health.
Stephanie Sy:
Registered dietitian and nutritionist Stacie Ellis supports the ban, particularly on soda.
Stacie Ellis:
When consumed, sugar rapidly enters the bloodstream, causing spikes in blood sugar levels, which the body struggles to manage. This can lead to triglyceride buildup, increasing the risk of heart disease and eventually resulting in conditions like prediabetes and diabetes.
Stephanie Sy:
Diet-related chronic diseases are the leading cause of mortality in the U.S., with obesity and diabetes alone costing the healthcare system approximately $586 billion annually.
Stacie Ellis:
While I understand concerns about limiting access to certain foods, I believe the government has a role in educating citizens on healthy eating.
Stephanie Sy:
Leslie Redden, a family nurse practitioner in South Dallas—a predominantly Black community—notes that life expectancy there is more than ten years less than the national average.
Leslie Redden, Prism Health North Texas:
We’re observing a troubling increase in prediabetes among our younger population.
Stephanie Sy:
What age are we talking about?
Leslie Redden:
Some of my youngest patients are as young as nine years old and are already in the prediabetic range. We are also seeing a rise in cholesterol levels.
Stephanie Sy:
Still, Redden states that for many patients, sugary snacks and drinks may not be a preference but rather a necessity to meet their caloric needs.
Leslie Redden:
I don’t think there’s a single commercial grocery store in this area, not even a chain.
Stephanie Sy:
From an external viewpoint, reducing sugary drinks and candy seems beneficial.
Leslie Redden:
Ideally, I’d love for all my patients to have access to a grocery store nearby where they could purchase fresh fruits and vegetables using their benefits. However, that’s simply not the reality. Eliminating unhealthy foods means limiting their available options.
Stephanie Sy:
What they typically have access to are convenience stores.
Andy Torres, Southside Grocery:
Small businesses like ours often do not have aisles stocked with fresh produce.
Stephanie Sy:
Torres expresses that the unclear restrictions are impacting his customers.
Andy Torres:
An exact list of what’s allowable would be more helpful; right now, it feels like a gray area regarding what can be sold.
Stephanie Sy:
These restrictions will also affect his business adversely. An analysis from the National Grocers Association indicates that compliance with the new regulations may cost convenience stores as much as $1 billion.
Stacie Ellis:
I find optimism in the potential health improvements.
Stephanie Sy:
Nutritionist Stacie Ellis feels positively about the health effects that may emerge from these changes.
Stacie Ellis:
The guidance from the government plays a significant role in shaping dietary choices. I genuinely believe we will see some progress.
Stephanie Sy:
However, Britanny Quick asserts that the new restrictions won’t necessarily lead her to reduce her soda consumption. For many busy parents, convenience remains a crucial factor in their food choices.
Britanny Quick:
The ease of grabbing something from the freezer and handing it to my child in the car can be a lifesaver, especially when I’m rushed and haven’t had the chance to prepare a meal. That’s the daily struggle for many parents.
Stephanie Sy:
For parents facing limited options to feed their families, Quick states that the SNAP restrictions simply add another layer of difficulty.
For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Stephanie Sy in Garland, Texas.
