Eliminate the eligibility of "junk food" from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-- AKA "food stamps")

Obesity is a major problem facing the US. Obesity is acutely on rise in our childhood population and particularly impacts the health of our low-income children (CDC, 2012). Despite these truths, our Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allows eligibility of such items as cake/donuts/candy/cookies/soda/energy drinks/chips/ice cream/sugar-filled drinks, etc. THIS PETITION IS NOT TO DISPUTE THE NECESSITY OR ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA OF THE SNAP PROGRAM. This is ONLY an effort to eliminate the eligibility of “junk food” from our supplemental food program. It is our belief that simple measures such as eliminating eligibility of “junk food” from the SNAP program will impact obesity prevention. It is also our belief the definition of “supplemental” foods should not include “junk food."