The mayors of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and 15 other cities are reviving a push against letting food stamps be used to buy soda and other sugary drinks.
In a letter sent to congressional leaders on Tuesday, the mayors say it’s “time to test and evaluate approaches limiting” the use of the subsidies for sugar-laden beverages, in the interest of fighting obesity and related diseases.
“We need to find ways to strengthen the program and promote good nutrition while limiting the use of these resources for items with no nutritional value, like sugary drinks, that are actually harming the health of participants,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose office released the letter, said in a statement. “Why should we continue supporting unhealthy purchases in the false name of nutrition assistance?”
The other cities whose mayors signed the letter are Baltimore; Boston; Louisville, Ky.; Madison, Wis.; Minneapolis; Newark, N.J.; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Providence, R.I.; Salt Lake City; San Francisco; St. Louis; and Seattle.
Read more at CBS LOCAL.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
I agree with this one. Let those be purchased with the customer’s money, not the taxpayers’. People can’t buy alcohol with food stamps either, and it a is reasonable regulation. Even though soft drinks, or alcohol, are not unhealthy in moderation, they are not a necessity and there is no reason to subsidize them.
Makes no sense. They use food stamps to buy cigarettes regardless of what the rules are.
Boomberg is a no good for any thing.
Why buy withe flower with food stamps.
It is bad for obesity and related diseases
such as DIABETES
Much as I hate Bloomberg I agree with him on this.Soda is an unhealthy luxury item.Don’t ask other people to pay for yours.