- UTAH HB403 aims to ban SNAP advantages from being used to buy candy and carbonated drinks.
- Soda is currently the best Snap purchase, and supporters of invoices argue that taxpayers’ money should not subsidize unhealthy products that lead to health problems.
- The bill would oblige UTAH to subject derogations to the USDA to modify the Federal Snap program, joining more than a dozen other states offering similar restrictions.
The representative of UTAH, Kristen Chevrier, R-Highland, sponsor HB403, which prohibits benefits (also known as food coupons) to be used to buy candy and soft drinks in UTAH, and She went to the 7-2 committee on Friday morning.
The proposed bill does not remove any financial advantage or imposes additional eligibility conditions.
“Snap means an additional nutritional assistance program, often called food coupons,” said Chevrier when the bill were introduced on Friday morning.
The initial goal of the food coupons program was to give evil individuals to join both ends “greater power of expenses to buy healthy and nutritious necessities, not to contribute to obesity, anxiety, to Depression and chronic diseases, ”said Chevrier.
However, as soda is the most purchased article with Snap dollars, Chevrier joins a wave of legislators in a dozen other states that are considering health reform thanks to food coupons restrictions.
“There is no nutritional value in soft drinks or most candies,” said Chevrier. “We must also not use dollars of taxes to subsidize unhealthy food products that will lead to obesity and other physical and mental health results for which the State will probably end up with the bill.”
The defender of health recognized at the Calley national means joining the hearing of the Utah Committee
Appellant of Phoenix, Arizona, health defender and former advisor Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Calley, joined Chevrier to present the bill.
The means discussed the wider underlying problem at HB403. “There is no clearer incentive which is a problem that element n ° 1 of our additional nutrition program, on which our low -income people from UTAH and all of America depend, which was going to soda, “he said.
Certain opponents of the bill believe that restrictions on food coupons remove the personal choice of buyers. Means approached this criticism, saying: “It is not a personal choice that we essentially incite to addictive substances for children.”
He continued: “It is not a personal choice when Pepsi and Coca-Cola have put pressure on tens of millions of dollars to ensure that their products are on food coupons. We are the only country in the world that allows it. »»
Representative Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman, asked for what new administration of the federal government made on the issue.
“Bobby Kennedy and Brooke Rollins during their first days in power spoke of Snap reform … But we all know that DC things are slow,” said.
He referred to a current bill which would need a statutory action of the congress to revise the food coupons program, but he urged states to take the initiative to modify the SNAP regulations on the scale of the ‘State and not to wait for Congress.
Expressing its hope that UTAH would inspire national action if the bill is adopted, means: “I think that if UTAH opens the way and that other states open the way, it would really pressure the congress. “”
Restrictions on candy and soft drinks arouse opposition in several directions
The debate during the hearing began with arguments on how drinks and candies must be classified.
Currently, the bill defines candy as a prepared food of “sugar, honey or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruit, nuts or other ingredients or aromas in the form of bars , drops or parts, and does not require refrigeration. “
The bill has excluded the protein bars without added sugar.
According to the bill, a soft drink is a “non -alcoholic drink which is made with sparkling water and which is flavored and sweet with sugar or artificial sweeteners”. Drinks containing milk, dairy products, soybeans, rice, milk substitutes or 50% or more vegetable or fruit juice do not integrate into the definition of carbonated drink by the bill.
These definitions can change before the bill moved to the House for a vote.
Chevrier told the Deeret News that in addition to soft drinks companies, the only opposition of the bill came from the organization, Utahns Against Hunger.
“The first thing they told me is that they are afraid that the next thing is canned spaghetti sauce,” said Chevrier. “Their only objection was that they thought he opened a door to remove other things from the list.”
Chevrier does not see this as a problem. “We already know that carbonated drinks and candies are the best sales items for Snap, so these are the targets. I don’t see that it goes further than that, ”she said.
During the last month, two dozen states proposed what the means describe as Maha invoices. “There is a database uprising to repair health incentives. At least 20 of these states request derogations from Snap, and these bills take place by the committee, “he said.
How would this bill be implemented?
Given that the Chevrier’s bill seeks to modify how a federal program is observed in the state of UTAH, it establishes a plan to subject recurrent derogations to the USDA.
If it is approved, an exemption has the power to modify how the SNAP program is observed in UTAH. However, to be approved, he must demonstrate a legitimate need and benefit for change, report justification, suggest an implementation plan and cannot replace the main federal requirements of the program.
Addressing the committee, means have expressed its conviction that the derogations sent to the USDA under Kennedy will pass, since they contain an appropriate justification and intention.
