Maine Health Chief: Ban Candy, Soda From Food Stamps

AUGUSTA, ME — Maine's top health official is urging federal administrators to ban soda and candy from the food stamp program, arguing the sweets waste tax dollars and contribute to the state's obesity rate.

Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew last week submitted a formal request to the federal Department of Agriculture to prohibit the items from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.

"We do not need to debate or study whether there is any nutritional value to soda and candy," Mayhew said in a statement. "Too many tax dollars are being wasted on candy and soda instead of being used for nutritional foods ... We must restore integrity to this program by advancing this common sense reform."

Mayhew cited USDA data that found soda accounts for 5 percent of food stamp spending — equating to about $13 million a year in Maine. She also pointed to Maine's 30-percent obesity rate among adults.

About 17 percent of Maine residents are on food stamps, according to 2015 federal data.

Mayhew also requested the USDA use some food stamp funding in a "more impactful way" by sending millions to local banks, schools and community groups for food distribution instead of nutrition education programs.

• Mary Mayhew's letter to federal administrators

Photo: Maureen Veras/Flickr

This story was first published February 23, 2017