During a Senate Higher Education Committee hearing today, Senator Bob Singer (R-Lakewood) raised concerns about the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars to purchase sugary beverages, noting that an estimated $10 to $11 billion annually goes toward Coca-Cola products alone.
“One concern I have is that Coca-Cola gets about 9 billion dollars a year. I said billion, not million, in SNAP monies,” Singer said. “That to me is a little upsetting, that we spend 10 to 11 billion dollars a year from SNAP on Coca-Cola.”
Singer, who also serves on the Senate Health Committee and is Vice Chairman of the Ocean County Board of Health, spoke about the broader implications of poor nutrition, particularly for younger generations.
“I’m concerned about people eating healthier and being healthier, because that impacts so much,” he said. “The overweight of our population, especially younger people, and the fact that many are not physically fit, disturbs me,” he said, noting that he has “been involved in healthcare most of my life.”
While emphasizing that he supports providing assistance to those in need, Singer expressed disappointment that taxpayer-funded nutrition benefits are so often spent on junk food instead of healthier options.
“I don’t mind subsidizing, that’s part of our morals, to respect each other and help each other,” he said. “But when I think about using money for junk food instead of healthy food? That bothers me. I’m a little disappointed.”
Singer’s comments add to ongoing debates about whether government food-assistance programs should impose restrictions on sugary or nutrient-poor items, a policy discussion that has gained momentum both in New Jersey and nationally.
In related news, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that the Trump administration is planning to have “everyone” receiving SNAP benefits reapply after a probe allegedly found 186,000 cases of fraud in 29 Republican states alone.
“Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data what we’re going to find?” she asked.
Much SNAP fraud could be found in democratic states as well, including NJ
I get SNAP and I’m very careful how I spend the money. I don’t buy the most expensive cuts of meat, I usually try to buy items on sale and I never buy sodas. I stretch every penny of my benefits. I can’t say I never buy snacks, but, sodas are the worst. Maybe somehow SNAP could limit sodas to one liter a week, because why should poor people be deprived of what everyone else has? (personally I think sodas should be banned altogether)
Food stamps should be similar to WIC, with broader categories to feed adults and children healthy nutritious foods. There is no reason my tax dollars are going to people to buy soda, candy and other junk. Use it buy meat, poultry, dairy, produce, etc. Not the junk so many people pump into their and their children’s bodies.
I agree with Singer and the solution is very easy just prohibit these items that are allowed with snap
He says Coca Cola, but is it Coca Cola the soda or is it all Coca Cola products that the money is spent on? I ask because Coca Cola Corporation sells sports drinks, coffee, tea, as well as fruit drinks such as Minute Maid. So is it just soda he’s referring to (which then I would agree with him) or is it just convenient political talk because most people only associate Coca Cola with soda, not their other products that would have some health benefits.