Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Introduction
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP) is an anti-hunger program whose costs administration is shared between the Federal and state governments. In 2015, the program benefitted more than 45 million people across America. More than two-thirds of the beneficiaries are families with children in need of assistance while families with elderly and disabled people constituted a quarter of the total beneficiaries (CBPP, 2015). SNAP uses an approach to choosing the recipients based on poverty line where beneficiaries are either living at, below or slightly above the poverty line. Other determinants for selection as a beneficiary are economic conditions (like during the global crisis) and state-specific factors. As a program whose primary concern is the health of the people, SNAP has guidelines and regulations, created to ensure that funds given under the program are used properly.
Current eligible food items under the SNAP program
Basically, SNAP authorizes households on their program to buy food items for human consumptions. The items include bread and cereals, meat, fish, poultry and dairy products. The program also authorizes seeds and plants that produce food for people to eat. In essence, the program encourages production of consumable agricultural products. However, SNAP does not allow its beneficiaries to buy junk food and luxury items. This list includes hot food sold at fast foods joints, alcohol, tobacco and nonfood consumables like soap, medicine and household supplies (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 2015).
Limitation of eligible foods to nutritional products
The proposal to limit the SNAP benefits to products with nutritional value is informed by the original design of the program, even when it was called food stamp. As an anti-hunger initiative, the basic focus is having a healthy population free from lifestyle diseases and conditions like obesity and over-weight individuals who run a risk cancer and other terminal illnesses (Black, 2016). For babies, the program aims to provide balanced diets for healthy development and growth.
The limits on the foods that can be bought with SNAP benefits help policy makers ensure that people from poor backgrounds have the same ‘food privileges' like the ones from the middle class and affluent society. The necessity to regulate the use of the benefits prevents undesired usage of the funds. For example, it would not be good if someone buys alcohol with the SNAP benefits and his family goes hungry. In a world where priorities must be observed, it helps to draw those guidelines for the people.
Research has argued that the SNAP restrictions do not reduce the consumption of sweetened beverages and alcohol. However, ensuring that people consume products of nutritional value helps in to manage the health hazards of junk foods and sweetened beverages. For a poor family whose income can only afford junk, forcing them to spend the SNAP benefits on goods of nutritional value helps in ensuring that the families are not exposed to lifestyle diseases and conditions like obesity. So instead of looking at a glass that is half-empty, nutritionists and policy makers can view it positively, with the positive implications of the restrictions in mind.
Groups that do not support restrictions
The main point for lifting the restrictions on the use of SNAP benefits is that these restrictions do not lead to a lower intake of soft drinks, sweetened beverages or alcohol. It is important to remember that SNAP benefits cover a subtle portion of the whole family consumption. The remaining portion is financed through income and wages, and can be used to purchase soft drinks and alcohol. In fact, research done by Economic Research Service between 2005-2008 found out that SNAP beneficiaries consumed more junk and sugary foods that people with incomes that are 250% of the minimum wage (Jessica Todd,2009). The research found out that, banning the purchase of some products using SNAP benefits has not helped in to reduce the use of those products, and, even, the restriction makes people spend more on restricted products using their alternative incomes.
Another point of the argument is that adults have a sense of responsibility for the decisions they make. By allowing people to take full control on the use of their SNAP benefits could even improve their expenditure. For instance, a mother of a little child may have funds on her SNAP card, but the same time, she cannot afford house supplies like soap and detergents, or maybe clothes for the kid. It would be unfair to have someone struggle with basic needs when they have a card with monies they can use. In that regard, therefore, it would be more helpful to let people take autonomy of their consumption patterns, and instead of issuing restrictions and guidelines, the policy makers can act as nutrition advisers.
Lastly, there could be alternative ways to control consumption of non-nutritional products and junk foods. For instance, if the government placed a tax on junk foods or sweetened beverages, they would become too expensive to purchase as compared to nutritional goods. Consumers, including those using SNAP benefits, would be having an opportunity to make decisions based on economic boundaries as opposed to making decisions as a result of policy restrictions. In that vein, the government would achieve the objectives of managing the health of the population without being combative. Allowing people to make economic choices based on the forces of demand and supply, and personal preferences is the surest way of controlling their consumption.
Taking sides: Restrictions on use of SNAP benefits are necessary
First and foremost, SNAP is a program that has an objective to cushion the poorest people in the society from the pressures of household budgeting. Managers of the program know that people living below the poverty line do not have the economic privilege of making consumption choices, as the little money they have only enough for junk. That means that nutritional foods like cereals, vegetables and fiber are clearly and completely out of reach for these people at the bottom of the pyramid. Removing restrictions on the use of the SNAP benefits would make such funds come in as a luxury, or additional income and they will use the money to buy non-basic products like soft drinks and alcohol (Friedman, Isaac, James, & Sunder, 2014, Pg 5). Following basic economic models and theories of consumption makes one appreciate the usefulness of te restrictions.
Conclusion
SNAP program is a vital government instrument that has had an impact on many Americans living below poverty line. Through the program, children get to develop by eating balanced diets and having access to necessary nutrients. Their parents use their regular incomes to buy household supplies and meet other needs, without having to make decisions that border on food and nutrition. Moreover, the limitations of the products to buy enable the government and policy makers to measure the impact of the program on people living in poverty.
References
Black, J. (2016). The Government Wants to Tell People What to Buy With Their Food Stamps. Slate Magazine. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/08/food_stamp_choices_should_ people_be_allowed_to_buy_junk_food_with_their.html
CBPP, (2016). Policy Basics: Introduction to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Center On Budget and Budget Priorities. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basics- introduction-to-the-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
Friedman, D., Isaac, R., James, D., & Sunder, S. (2014). Risky Curves. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
Jessica Todd, M. (2015). USDA ERS - Restricting Sugar-Sweetened Beverages From SNAP Purchases Not Likely To Lower Consumption. Ers.usda.gov. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2015-march/restricting-sugar-sweetened- beverages-from-snap-purchases-not-likely-to-lower-consumption.aspx#.VzuTm75XjIV
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, (2016). Eligible Food Items | Food and Nutrition Service. Fns.usda.gov. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items
