On July 18th, a Capitol Hill Briefing convened leading public health experts to discuss “SNAP to Health.” An initiative, spearheaded by the Center for the Study of the Presidency and the Congress (CSPC), to pinpoint current shortcomings of SNAP and present recommendations to strengthen the efficiency of the program to alleviate food insecurity, promote sound nutrition, and take on the obesity epidemic. It was a timely gathering, considering the SNAP program’s impending re-authorization as part of the 2012 Farm Bill. Below are some take home messages from the briefing, compiled by Christine Gary, MS, from our Washington, DC office.
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro gave a passionate plea for Congress not to cut SNAP funding, positioning the question of funding as more than just dollars and cents, and elevating it to a debate on the moral responsibility of a government to take care of its most vulnerable.
The Honorable Ron Wyden implored the audience for support of his proposed amendment that would grant states the legal authority to give waivers for pilot programs providing incentives for healthy purchases with SNAP dollars.
Dr. Walter Willett cited surveys showing that 80% of Americans support maintaining or even increasing current SNAP funding, provided the program raises its nutritional standards.
Dr. David Ludwig brought up animal studies that show metabolic changes conferring a predisposition to obesity after fasting periods. He connected these findings to the fact that many low income Americans don’t know when their next meal will be, and depend on SNAP as a way out of chronic fasting.
Dr. Marion Nestle highlighted how food marketers often target minorities and low-income families with advertisements pushing nutrient-poor fare. Food retailers promote junk food that can be purchased with SNAP benefits over produce b/c it grants a higher profit margin.
To continue the conversation on improving SNAP, visit CSPC’s virtual town hall at www.snaptohealth.org.
In hopes of providing a roadmap for strengthening current SNAP, the CSPC released an evidence-based comprehensive report offering 10 recommendations.
- Protect current funding levels for SNAP.
- Collect data on SNAP purchases.
- Identify a set of integrated strategies that would help align SNAP purchases with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- Focus attention on children’s health in SNAP
- Use incentives to make fruits, vegetables, and whole grains the easy choice
- Establish stronger food stocking standards for SNAP retailers
- Provide states with flexibility to evaluate fresh approaches to SNAP with waivers to pilot test and evaluate possible program changes
- Promote innovation in SNAP by establishing a Center for Health and Nutrition Innovation at the USDA.
- Create a partnership between the USDA and the HSS to move SNAP towards health
- Establish a Federal Interagency Taskforce as a national strategy of identifying fresh approaches to strengthen SNAP.
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro gave a passionate plea for Congress not to cut SNAP funding, positioning the question of funding as more than just dollars and cents, and elevating it to a debate on the moral responsibility of a government to take care of its most vulnerable.
The Honorable Ron Wyden implored the audience for support of his proposed amendment that would grant states the legal authority to give waivers for pilot programs providing incentives for healthy purchases with SNAP dollars.
Dr. Walter Willett cited surveys showing that 80% of Americans support maintaining or even increasing current SNAP funding, provided the program raises its nutritional standards.
Dr. David Ludwig brought up animal studies that show metabolic changes conferring a predisposition to obesity after fasting periods. He connected these findings to the fact that many low income Americans don’t know when their next meal will be, and depend on SNAP as a way out of chronic fasting.
Dr. Marion Nestle highlighted how food marketers often target minorities and low-income families with advertisements pushing nutrient-poor fare. Food retailers promote junk food that can be purchased with SNAP benefits over produce b/c it grants a higher profit margin.
To continue the conversation on improving SNAP, visit CSPC’s virtual town hall at www.snaptohealth.org.
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