With family in Greenfield, I read news articles urging states to strip some so-called junk-foods or snacks regarded as unhealthy from the $100 billion federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves 42 million Americans. To be clear, I support banning public food cards being used say for spearmint chewing-gum or sugary Jolly Rancher candies, etc.
However, I have a first-cousin who is a retired pharmacist. He commented to me one day that he likes Gatorade. I commented to him that, if memory serves, both Gatorade and Powerade have about 2% of the daily requirement of potassium, per serving. Yet, where I had the last laugh was in showing him the reverse label of my Lay’s potato chips which has 13% allowance of potassium. Plus, those chips have 6 percent allowance of Vitamin C and a 7 percent (a good source) of fiber. I do concede it all depends on how foods are processed and fat must be taken into consideration, too.
My Hershey’s pure milk chocolate bar which the label says has 6 percent calcium; 8 percent of iron; 4 percent potassium; with 4 percent dietary fiber.
I fully agree that the back label of a Coca-Cola has zero, zero, zero percent of anything redeeming; with only high rates of sodium and calories. Nobody wants heart disease nor diabetes. RFK Jr. has some good ideas, but I still don’t want to follow his habit of eating road kill for any type of dinner!
Where it’s blatantly obvious, I think the ban of coverage by SNAP funds is warranted. But, if it is a close call with a product having a fair amount of vitamins, minerals or fiber, I feel some negotiations and compromise can be made.
James A. Marples
Longview, Texas