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Americans on food stamps could be banned from buying ‘bad food and sugary drinks,’ Trump USDA chief says
NY Post ^ | 2/14/25 | Steven Nelson

Posted on 02/16/2025 2:25:54 AM PST by Libloather

WASHINGTON — Americans on food stamps may be banned from using them to buy “sugary drinks” and other junk food, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Friday.

The newly appointed cabinet official said she will work with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — to prioritize food-stamp benefits for healthy food items.

“Will we ever take food out of a hungry child’s mouth? Of course not, this is the United States of America, Rollins told reporters on the White House driveway.

“Truly, this program has grown so large, especially in the last administration. Under Biden, I think [the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] grew almost 30% more than before. We really need to look at where that money is going, what it’s being spent on,” she said.

“I look forward to working with Bobby Kennedy as we figure out, ‘Do we have the healthiest choices?’ So when a taxpayer is putting money into SNAP, are we OK with us using their tax dollars to feed really bad food and sugary drinks to children who perhaps need something more nutritious?”

Rollins and Kennedy were both confirmed by the Senate Thursday and will serve on President Trump’s new 13-member Make America Healthy Again commission.

In fiscal 2023, 42.1 million people received SNAP benefits, according to USDA.

The program’s cost was $112.8 billion annually, with benefits averaging $211.93 per month.

It’s unclear how the plan might work, though the idea already is under consideration in Congress.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Food; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: banned; brookerollins; food; foodstamps; stamps; trump; usda; welfare
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To: Paal Gulli
"You can’t legislate stupidity, morality, or diet."

True statement, but one can choose what one subsidizes, or not.

81 posted on 02/16/2025 8:00:45 AM PST by OKSooner (Communists gonna communist.)
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To: dinodino
They should also immediately discontinue EBT card acceptance at fast food joints.

EBT cards should only be accepted at grocery stores for specific items only. No convienience stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc. Better yet the US government needs to get out of the subsistence business in the first place. Give it back to the states. TOTALLY.

82 posted on 02/16/2025 8:06:20 AM PST by ChuckHam
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To: metmom

“The thing is, though, churches can step up and help for those TRULY in need. Too many of the welfare deadbeats also try to scam churches.”

I thought about that too. And I agree Churches could be a great option for help. But there are just too many who truly need help for them to cover it all. Way too many. It is impossible especially in this economy.

And then we have this crew around here who wants to tax Churches and make them pay their fair share in taxes. Did you see that? The whole situation is absolutely scatter brained.


83 posted on 02/16/2025 8:14:27 AM PST by Openurmind
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To: ChuckHam

convenience not convienence. Dummy.


84 posted on 02/16/2025 8:14:57 AM PST by ChuckHam
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To: Libloather

Frankly I am for handing out rice, beans, and dairy. NO FOOD EBT.


85 posted on 02/16/2025 8:21:24 AM PST by goodnesswins (Democracy to Democrats is stealing other peoples money for their use, no matter how idiotic)
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To: Libloather

I used to live in Oregon, and Oregon has a deposit on plastic bottles. The EBT cards allow the users to buy bottled water with the cards. So, the addicts would buy cases of water go outside and pour all the water into the storm sewer, and then take the bottles back in for a refund on the deposit. Thereby converting their EBT benefits into cash. (They bought water because it was the cheapest thing with a deposit).


86 posted on 02/16/2025 8:25:42 AM PST by FrankRizzo890
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To: Libloather

Honestly it should be that way. SNAP recipients should only be able to buy healthy foods, learn to cook, etc.

Second, I have seen what gets donated at food shelters. Often times it isn’t healthy foods. Surprisingly much of it is baked goods from the stores. Very little meat or fresh vegetables/fruit.

So if SNAP goes healthy...then the food pantry continues to offer the junk and processed stuff.

Win/win for those needing assistance.


87 posted on 02/16/2025 8:26:34 AM PST by EBH (America Blackmailed, The True Story of the World War...Coming Soon (1/21-))
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To: Libloather

My daughter used to own an ice cream shop. Every thing she sold there was fattening. One day she got a letter in the mail from the Pennsylvania dept of welfare that she now could accept their version of food stamps if she desired. It blew my mind to think that the government was willing to pay for ice cream.


88 posted on 02/16/2025 8:39:48 AM PST by Ditto
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To: Phoenix8

I am not a violent old woman, but I would be tempted to slap her if I was in the room while she was doing this.

And such a potty mouth.


89 posted on 02/16/2025 8:41:44 AM PST by Bigg Red (My long-time tagline has been removed and will be stored on my home page as it has proved true.)
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To: Libloather

I personally saw a guy in a supermarket wine and spirits department buy a bottle of rotgut for a few dollars and then whip out his food stamp EBT card to buy a $1.69 bottle of soda as a mixer. Of course it is commonplace in Minnesota to see the Somalis talking on the latest IPhone while buying their groceries with their food stamp EBT card


90 posted on 02/16/2025 8:43:48 AM PST by The Great RJ
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To: Libloather

When I was in my twenties, a woman with kids could not be on welfare and co-habitate. They were only allowed to have a twin bed, and case workers would do spot checks, looking for evidence that a man might be living with the woman. In the early 90’s, a woman I went to nursing school with bemoaned the fact that she got caught and had to pay back thousands in welfare. She had been living with her kids’ dad all along, with him working at a Chrysler plant making big bucks and getting yearly bonuses of up to $20,000/year, while she was on welfare, Medicaid and food stamps. She was proud of the grift. She should have gone to jail and had her nursing license pulled.


91 posted on 02/16/2025 8:47:35 AM PST by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: Libloather

how much in food stamps are going to the illegals???

rein that spending in and you get real savings

as for what can be bought with food stamps. that i can go for, but then i only get 23.00/month so not much can i get.


92 posted on 02/16/2025 4:25:46 PM PST by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: dp0622

i remember those days.
got food stamps in the 80’s to 92.. sucked to shop had to tear out the stamps out of the book. was so happy the day i slapped down a 100.00 bill to buy food.


93 posted on 02/16/2025 4:28:29 PM PST by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: Libloather

Beggars can’t be choosers.


94 posted on 02/16/2025 4:30:23 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dinodino
because the EBT has both food stamps and the cash assistance on the card, you push a bottom for either food or cash on the POS terminal
95 posted on 02/16/2025 4:31:13 PM PST by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: Libloather

Since the whole thing is computerized, ‘accounts’ should be funded on a daily basis so that recipients will not spend it all in one day.


96 posted on 02/17/2025 11:57:17 AM PST by eccentric
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To: eccentric

You didn’t used to be able to buy junk.


97 posted on 02/17/2025 11:59:13 AM PST by combat_boots
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To: combat_boots

98 posted on 02/17/2025 10:25:50 PM PST by caww (O death, when you seized my Lord, you lost your grip on me......)
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