SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides low-income, disabled and homeless people a debit-like card with a monthly allowance to buy groceries.
40 million Americans rely on this assistance and soon they might be able to use those cards at drive-thrus across the country.
Yum! brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, and other popular chains is currently lobbying with hopes to make this possible.
Helen Hussey, a dietitian at Memorial Health, believes this could benefit low-income people who might not have kitchens or electricity to cook food.
But one mother of three in Texas who uses food stamps says she is torn on the idea because she doesn't believe fast food is a necessity.
Hussey says if this program were to go into effect, there would need to be rules in place so people would buy the healthiest options available at restaurants.
Right now, restaurants in Arizona, California and Michigan can apply for a permit to accept food stamps as payment. A similar program is being tested in a Florida county, but only the homeless are eligible.
Copyright 2011 WTOC. All rights reserved.
40 million Americans rely on this assistance and soon they might be able to use those cards at drive-thrus across the country.
Yum! brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, and other popular chains is currently lobbying with hopes to make this possible.
Helen Hussey, a dietitian at Memorial Health, believes this could benefit low-income people who might not have kitchens or electricity to cook food.
But one mother of three in Texas who uses food stamps says she is torn on the idea because she doesn't believe fast food is a necessity.
Hussey says if this program were to go into effect, there would need to be rules in place so people would buy the healthiest options available at restaurants.
Right now, restaurants in Arizona, California and Michigan can apply for a permit to accept food stamps as payment. A similar program is being tested in a Florida county, but only the homeless are eligible.
Copyright 2011 WTOC. All rights reserved.
youiu can bye hot food at some stores already maybe alow a person so much maybe for one time a month
ReplyDeletethe healthiest items are the most expensive
ReplyDeleterights are rights every one should have a right to buy what they want. Just because you can pay cash or use that mastercard don't make you better. Are you saying becuase you pay with cash or the visa your eating healthy... Maybe they to want to take their family out. Everyone situations are different. don't be so judgementale
ReplyDeleteFast food? Are you kidding me? I was on food stamps while in school and I NEVER bought candy, pop or any other type of junk food with them! It's ridiculous what I see people buying with food stamps. Absolutely NOT. And YES, people should be able to buy what they want---with their own money--not mine and the governments. I don't think that makes me BETTER
ReplyDelete