USDA Food Stamp Regulations Could Bring Produce, Problems for Food Desserts

Regulators with the United States Department of Agriculture have proposed new guidelines for food store retailers that accept SNAP benefits or food stamps.

Each year in Texas, close to 4 million people rely on the government’s food stamp program. Last year in the United States, more than 45 million people utilized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

If the regulations are passed, food stamp retailers that accept food stamps would have to stock seven varieties of foods in each of the four food groups: fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, dairy meats, poultry, and fish. At least three of the items would have to be perishable.

Through the program, the USDA is trying to provide healthier choices for residents that depend on smaller grocery stores, and corner stores for their food.

“I think that would be great,” said Tara Pratt who is a mother of two teenagers.

“My son loves to eat salads, and I’m trying to eat healthier too. If these stores had more fruit it would be a boost to parents on the go."

"In the morning for breakfast, fresh fruit would be a benefit for people on the go. In a lot of fast food restaurants it costs more money to get a salad than it does to buy a burger. So to have that option for people who are trying to eat healthy, that would be beneficial,” Pratt said.

If stores are not able to meet the requirements they could lose the ability to accept food stamps. The southern sector of Dallas is void of “quality grocery stores,” making it difficult for families who live in below I-30 to buy fresh produce.

“There aren’t many places that you can buy food around here,” said Joseph Alrob, who manages a small grocery store in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood.

“There aren’t many restaurants either. We sell grocery store items and hot food. We have tried to sell vegetables in the past. A few people will ask for them, but when we stock them, we don’t have many buyers and we have to throw the food out,” he said.

Store owners, however, believe the proposed regulations would hurt their business and families in their communities.

“For some people, this is all they have. People don’t just buy hot foot here, they are buying daily items like cereal, milk, bread, and meat. If we don’t accept food stamps, that’s going to hurt a lot of people. They are going to have to travel far to get food, and some of them don’t have transportation,” said Arob.

The USDA has proposed a change that would require certain food retailers to stock seven varieties of foods in each of four food groups in order to accept benefits from snap or food stamps.

The proposed regulations are still being revised by the USDA.

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