Stop Disease in Its Tracks: Ban the Purchase of Soda with SNAP Benefits

With healthy beverage options such as water or milk, soda is not a necessity. In addition, countless studies show that soda has been proven to increase the risk of preventable diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Even worse, billions of dollars every year are needed to treat and maintain these health problems. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, still allows for soda to be purchased with its benefits. In fact, soda was the number one item purchased under the SNAP program.

Although one may argue that SNAP recipients should purchase whatever they please, banning soda from being purchased with SNAP benefits would improve overall health, reduce healthcare costs, and save millions (possibly billions) of dollars a year.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Please sign this petition if you agree.