New move to extend food stamps to supplements
food stamps to spend them on vitamins and minerals has met with
applause from supplements industry associations on the grounds that
it would help low-income families to meet their nutritional needs.
The Food Stamp Vitamin and Mineral Improvement Act of 2005, championed by Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), aims to extend the scope of the existing food stamp program, which has existed in a number of different forms since 1939. The first food stamp act was passed in 1964, but was supplanted by new legislation in 1977.
Similar attempts to extend the program to some supplements were made in 1999 and 2001.
Recipients of food stamps or holders of the new 'electronic benefits transfer card' can exchange them in selected stores for food items. Hot foods, foods that will be eaten in the store, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, medicines and, at present, vitamins cannot be paid for using the scheme.
Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, is all for extension to vitamins and minerals:
"Whether it's a woman of child-bearing age who should be taking a multivitamin with folic acid to prevent birth defects, or an elderly man who needs extra calcium to protect fragile bones, the food stamp program should provide low-income Americans with options and encouragement to improve their nutritional status. This bill would permit a family of four to supplement their conventional food intake with a simple multivitamin."
Mister emphasized that nutritional outreach should still focus on a well-balanced diet. He told NutraIngredients-USA.com that since there are no restrictions to prevent people from spending food stamps on junk food, they should also be able to use them for nutritional supplements.
"The USDA has decided that it does not include products sold solely for nutritional supplement, and as it won't change this policy we think it is up to Congress to put it right."
As to whether the bill will encourage people to think they can eat whatever junk food they want and derive their nutrients from supplements alone, Mister said:
"That is why they are called dietary supplements, not dietary substitutes. Americans who make the choice to be healthy should have the means and tools to do so."
The CRN has sent a letter to the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee expressing support for the bill, which it says would "allow the millions and millions of low-income Americans who rely on food stamps to better meet their nutritional needs".
According to statistics from the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, around 21.3 million people in 9.2 million households received food stamps each month in 2003.
Over half of food stamp recipients in 2003 were children, and nine percent were over 60. While the majority of households were not also receiving cash welfare benefits and 28 percent had earnings coming in, less than 12 percent were above the poverty line.
The typical household had gross income of $640 per month and received food stamps worth $185 each month.
