Dive Brief:
- The American Heart Association wants the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to address recipients' diet quality, according to a policy statement from the organization.
- According to studies cited by the group, compared to non-beneficiaries, those who used SNAP ate 39% fewer whole grains and 46% more red meat. Women had 61% more sugar-sweetened beverages. Another study showed SNAP benefits paid for 72% of sugary drinks in those households.
- "Some research has estimated that banning sugary drink purchases using SNAP benefits could avert 510,000 diabetes person-years and 52,000 deaths from heart attacks and strokes over the next decade, with a cost-savings of $2,900 per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) saved," the policy statement says.
Dive Insight:
The SNAP program benefits more than 45 million Americans struggling through underemployment and low or stagnant wages, but the figures from 2016 showed the lowest participation rate since 2010 thanks to an improving economy.
For years, nutritionists and activists have been trying to prohibit SNAP beneficiaries from using their benefits on soft drinks and other non-healthy products, as studies increasingly show how participants in the program eat much worse than others.
With its policy paper, the American Heart Association is throwing its support behind this belief. With more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters, the organization’s words carry a lot of weight. While the policy paper talks about several different aspects of unhealthy eating, it seems to zero in on sugary beverages like soda. Taking the drink out of the SNAP pipeline could be devastating to a segment that’s already floundering.
Retailers, understandably, are not happy. Many in the industry are also fighting attempts to disallow soda under the SNAP benefits, with numerous leaders lobbying congress to not put restrictions in place.
Since SNAP is authorized in the Farm Bill, which is set to be passed again next year, the time is now for changes to be made. The Republican Congress has been examining the program for years, and recommended cutting sugary drinks from permitted items in a report delivered last year. It will be interesting to watch the legislative battle. Analysts remain divided over which side will win out.