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Minnesota Seeks Food Stamp Ban on Junk Food
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Contributor | Gerald Farinas |
Last Edited | Gerald Farinas Mar 11, 2004 07:35pm |
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Category | News |
Media | News Service - Associated Press |
News Date | Thursday, March 11, 2004 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
Description | Minnesota Seeks Food Stamp Ban on Junk Food
The Honolulu Advertiser
The state of Minnesota is asking federal permission to bar people from using food stamps to buy candy bars, soda and other junk food. If the U.S. Department of Agriculture approves, Minnesota would be the first state to impose such restrictions. The change would still need the approval of the Legislature, where some anti-poverty activists call it a mean-spirited intrusion into the cupboards of the poor.
The federal government already restricts the use of food stamps somewhat. Recipients cannot use food stamps to buy liquor or tobacco, or hot foods such as rotisserie chicken.
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty first proposed the junk-food ban more than a year ago. As for the tricky task of deciding which foods are healthy and which aren't, Minnesota would simply apply the definitions already in the state's tax code. Minnesota taxes candy and soda but exempts most other store-bought foods. However, the tax code is full of inconsistencies. The state, for example, taxes Hershey's bars but not Kit Kat bars, because anything made with flour is not considered a candy. It taxes gum but not licorice. It taxes marshmallows but not ice cream bars. Also, potato chips would not be banned. |
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