New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has caused an outrage with an announcement to ban the purchase of sugary drinks with food stamps. The city official believes the purchase of sugary drinks with food stamps is adding to the obesity problem in the state.
Along with Mayor Bloomberg, the Governor David Patterson issued submission of a proposal to the United States Department of Agriculture, the administrators of the nation’s food stamp program. The proposal would like to see sugary drinks such as sodas, teas, sports drinks and juices on the same list of banned items such as cigarettes, beer and wine. Government officials cite that using government funding to provide “foods of little or no nutritional value not only contradicts the intent of the program, it also effectively subsidizes a serious public health epidemic.”
Many residents liken the NYC Mayor to the ‘Soup Nazi’ on the hit show “Seinfeld” when he refused to serve soup. Bloomberg and supporting city officials want to ban soda and other drinks manufactured with high counts of sugar to promote good health. Besides the obesity problem, NYC also wants to gain control over diabetes. Food stamp users consider sugary drinks as consumable products and part of their normal daily diet.
If approved the ban would not allow the purchase of drinks sweetened with sugar for the city’s residents. In addition, if approved, this would be the first ban based on nutritional value in the program’s history, which could become the opening of Pandora’s Box.
In years passed, other states have sought such bans from the USDA unsuccessfully. In 2008, Maine received criticism for an attempt to pass such a ban. Likewise with Minnesota in 2004 when the state proposed a ban on sodas, candy and other forms of junk food with the purchase of food stamps. The USDA rejected the proposal because according to the agency’s definition of food, those items are included.
Thomas Farley, Health Commissioner for New York City, believes New York’s proposals provides a narrower focus and stands a much better chance of approval.