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Coming Soon? Fast Food Stamps

44 Replies

Illustration by Oliver Munday for BusinessWeek

Should Food Stamp recipients be able to use government funds to buy fast food? Yum Brands, the holding company of KFC and Taco Bell thinks YES!

If this seems totally preposterous to you, well, it’s because it is.

The aid program, now known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), was instated by the federal government during the depression years of the 1930′s to help solve two issues – feed starving families and help keep farmers in business by paying them a minimum price for their produce. And so the things people could buy with food stamps were fruits, vegetables, eggs, grains, dairy, and meat. Here’s some more information on the program.

As the years progressed, and processed foods became the mainstay of the American diet, food stamps were also being used for the purchase of soda pop, snacks, and candy.

Now YUM Brands is trying to get approval for the use of food stamps in its dining establishments in 4 states: Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. SNAP is administered at the state level.

According to BusinessWeek, SNAP aid reached a mind boggling

$64.4 billion in the 2010 fiscal year. “Everybody wants to get a piece of that action,” says Marion Nestle, a New York University professor of nutrition and public health. “Right now it’s going to grocery stores; restaurants think that’s not fair.”

In California, as it turns out, fast food establishments are already able to receive food stamps from individuals who cannot cook from themselves – the homeless who have no kitchen and people with disabilities. So “the foot is in the door” for the fast food industry.

Thankfully, state and federal officials so far have not let the lobbying by YUM get to them. But what if McDonald’s and the rest of the fast food industry join in on the demands?

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  • Amanda M.

    Why not, if the intent of SNAP is to feed economically disadvantaged people. If the intent is to oppress those lower socioeconomic classes, then autocratically restricting and rationing them might be a winning approach. The feigned disgust over how SNAP benefits are utilized betrays your elitist, bigoted agendas…and during the holidays, no less!!

    • http://www.fooducate.com/blog Fooducate

      SNAP is a nutrition assistance program. Where is the nutrition in KFC? 
      If the intent was to oppress, maybe the government wouldn’t shell out any money for this program. 
      If a person agrees to receive FREE food, the organization that DONATES that food (or funds for food) has every right to specify what can be on the list, and what cannot.

      • Guest

        You are suggesting there is NO nutrition in KFC or other “fast food” which, of course, is entirely incorrect and addle-brained. The nutrients in that food may not be what you prefer but who the hell are you to insist everyone believe the same bullshit you do? Your agenda is arrogant, elitist and incredibly ignorant. What self-righteous asses you and your foodie disciples are.

        • http://www.fooducate.com/blog Fooducate

          Dear guest – Please keep the discussion civil or your comment will be deleted. You parents must have raised you to be a polite person.
          You can eat whatever you want on your own dime. A taxpayer program to promote nutrition should not be paying for a deep fried chicken, fries and coke. Or any other “nutritious choice” at KFC or Taco Bell. Period.

    • Celestialpetunia

      Why not?  Because then we’d be giving the nod to use our tax dollars to fund the next big crisis, which will be medical.  Obesity-related disability, metabolic syndromes, eventually not enough people being fit enough for military or public service jobs.  People dying early (which might actually be the answer to the social security issue…hmmm)  That’s typical America, addressing the current need with no thought of what the ramifications are.

  • Ethelgoralski

    Are you serious? These funds are in place to help families who are struggling. They dont give them huge amount of money in the first place. Now imagine, the recipients spending these funds at kfc, I doubt very seriously they would have enough left to feed their families for the rest of the month. Not to mention the mis-use of this program already taking place. I have seen people sell their food stamps and men and women who just refuse to work and allow the government to take care of them. I know people who also need it, and im glad its there for them. But there are some serious flaws in the system, lets not add another.

    • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

      I disagree – when I worked at WIC (another food gov’t program) many were given more money in a month then I spend on food. It is the people who just “miss”qualifying that are hurting.  I remember discussing with a WIC participant who was complaining about the lack of funds to buy food BUT continued to find money for cigarettes. I think they should hire Registered Dietitians to counsel the participants on the SNAP program.

    • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

      Suggest you figure how much some of these people are receiving…then work with them and see where they are spending it. Keep in mind it is a SUPPLEMENTAL program. Not uncommon for some to receive $500+/month for a family of four – that adds $6000 tax free.  The average taxpayer would have to make an additional $7500 in income to be able to spend that much on food. Many are also receiving WIC, subsidized housing and so on…in fact those entitlements will start being added into the totals when they figure out poverty levels.

  • Dina

    Obviously, it would be ideal if food stamps were used for healthy food, but I’ve got to say that if I were hungry I would eat at KFC or McDonalds.  In fact, I have eaten there when I was hungry and there weren’t many other options (on road trips for instance).  Now that everything is automated, why not make a proportion of food stamps available for fast food, soda, etc.?

    • http://www.fooducate.com/blog Fooducate

      The answer is simple – even the poorest recipients have some money. If they wish to buy junk food, let them use their cash. SNAP should be reserved for healthy food. Already a portion is being used to buy sugary drinks and snacks. Why increase that allocation any more?
      Government spending for a nutrition program should not end up in the coffers of the antipode corporations.

      • blushing from disgust

        Your fly is unzipped and your agenda is hanging out. Kinda disturbing, actually.

        • http://www.fooducate.com/blog Fooducate

          Last warning to comments coming from you. Be polite or find somewhere else to lay on the hate…

  • Kate Heuchera

    I don’t know that I love the idea.  However food stamps can be currently used to buy things that are sort of half candy, half toy, like a $2 spinning lollipop in the candy aisle.

    I could see allowing food stamps to be used in a product specific way in some fast food outlets.

    The food stamp program as I know it in our state does not specify what products can be  bought with it.  I think the WIC program does specify what products can be bought with it.

  • http://www.fooducate.com/blog Fooducate

    Dear community – if you want to respond in a polite and civil manner – please do so. We welcome dissent and dialog. 

    But finding 3 hate filled comments in the thread coming from the same IP address but marked as a different person each time is really trollish.

  • Jessica Isabel

    I think that by telling people on food stamps what to eat, we are further marginalizing and condescending to poor people. It’s pretty easy to do – to set oneself up as an authority on what people should be eating and prevent them from using those funds to purchase food you deem unworthy of their time. I like this site because it educates, but this post sounds a lot like you’re presuming you know what’s best for people. Just to give a few examples: 

    Single parents who work minimum wage jobs, long hours, and do not have the time or energy to prepare meals for their children come home and bring them what – raw carrots? I’m not saying I agree with bringing them KFC or Taco Bell every night… but there seems to be a lack of understanding on your part of what the reality is for the majority of people living on food stamps in this country. This problem can be solved through education – not through demonizing the poor as people who are doing terrible things to themselves and their children by using their food stamps on fast food. Yes, it’s important to look at the history of the SNAP program, but this isn’t the 1930′s anymore. A large percentage of the people on food stamps are employed, full-time, in jobs that don’t pay them enough for that standard of living in the place where they live.

    I try to eat healthy. I try to think about my food choices in the larger economic system of this country. But I also know it’s not my place to mandate to other people what they can and cannot eat. 

    • Kate Heuchera

      Good points Jessica.  As far as your comment “it’s not my place to mandate…”….I think this is where I get uncomfortable with much of the food debate, because I think that is what some people would like to happen.

    • Kate Heuchera

      Good points Jessica.  As far as your comment “it’s not my place to mandate…”….I think this is where I get uncomfortable with much of the food debate, because I think that is what some people would like to happen.

    • Bryan

      It is our place to mandate, when my taxes are paying for their food stamps, and then further pay for their health care that rises as a result of food stamps being used on junk food.

    • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

      I disagree – it is FREE money in the form of aid no matter how you look at it. SNAP was set up to be a supplemental program and like anything, rules need to be set.  Condescending – I totally disagree.  Letting SNAP participants, with the highest health care costs and obesity rates in the country, continue to pick unhealthy foods is a disservice to them. 

      • Kate Heuchera

        So do you suggest changing how they can utilize the food stamp benefit in the grocery store?  They can still either pick, or make unhealthy foods from seemingly healthy ingredients.  Or would you mandate that they only chose from a very small list of foods?

    • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

      I disagree – it is FREE money in the form of aid no matter how you look at it. SNAP was set up to be a supplemental program and like anything, rules need to be set.  Condescending – I totally disagree.  Letting SNAP participants, with the highest health care costs and obesity rates in the country, continue to pick unhealthy foods is a disservice to them. 

  • Gerome

    Ah, here’s a hot potato (or hot french fry with extra salt and ketchup, as the case may be).

    So, some observations. People who use SNAP are not restricted from buying really crappy food at the grocery. So the restriction on not buying at a KFC is not guaranteeing that anyone will eat well — but yes, there would be the opportunity to eat well. So, is there some self-regulation among those who care and use SNAP already? I think there could be.

    There has been no discussion here about the alternative to the KFC for a segment of the SNAP users (other than for those who are unable to cook for themselves). What about the person who only has the option of shopping at the corner 7-11 for groceries because there is not a market nearby? I do think there are people who would love to eat well, but geography, lack of transportation, or maybe even lack of a babysitter, can restrict your shopping options. Could the KFC cost less and be (ugh) of equal nutrition when compared to the frozen dinner you’d grab from the freezer case at the convenience store? My point is that when we restrict choices, it may not improve nutrition.

    The real bottom line problem is that the food at KFC generally is crap. Could we ask KFC to make healthy options that qualified for SNAP payment? (And in doing so, provide a better meal choice for everyone who darkens the door?) I like the idea of this — but in practice could it work? Would KFC sell me a hunk of grilled chicken, a baked ‘tater and a green veggie side… with a glass of FREE friggin’ water? (Not $2 water, please!)

    If KFC is so interested in getting a share of the SNAP pie, I would think they’d play that game — and then who knows — maybe everyone would be happy. KFC needs to go to the states and show an improved menu. That might actually move the needle in the correct direction.

    • Kate Heuchera

      KFC has a varied menu depending on location, but I know that most sell grilled chicken, some sell green beans and salads.  

  • Kate Heuchera

    The other problem recipients have is simply finding a location in which to use the benefits which is convenient.  For recipients without cars this would give them one more option.  I’d be okay with if it was product specific, and only a portion of the benefits could be used at fast food restaurants.

    While I’m not crazy about the food stamp program as it presently exists, I’m not sure how eating at a fast food restaurant is worse than buying candy and chips at a grocery store with the food stamps.

    • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

      If you change the food they can buy – local stores will stock those foods. Less soda and chips! Walgreens and others are already starting to do that.

  • Mr.BillWest

    It would seem counter productive to allow SNAP to be used at fast food places and then also try and combate obesity with other programs.

    Nobody is making people use SNAP. If they don’t like the restriction placed upon there use by taxpayers well to bad.

    I am sure the grocery store lobby will chime in here soon.

  • Rosesagetwins

    Look I really think that if people are on food stamps using my money for food that they should only be able to buy the healthy foods I don’t think candy, fast food, and soda have a place. I mean make it like WIC where they can only buy certain foods. Of course you will always get those people that buy the expensive stuff just to sell to other people for 1/2 the price they payed for with Food stamps which is fraud by the way and people should be punished for it.
    If we can get the poor to do for themselves more. Then there wouldn’t be so many needy people out there. My mother was on food stamps and needed help most of my life and she got money from my father (child support) and worked two full time minimum wage jobs just so that we could get out of our hole we even for a time lived with my grandparents.  And now I am not on food stamps  my brothers and sisters are not on food stamps or welfare we made something of our selves but my mother always bought good nutritious food to put on the table we didn’t eat out that was to much money that only happen on really special occasions. We need more people to work like my mother to help there children and themselves. Sometimes it just takes the extra effort. 

  • Guest

    20 comments and nobody has brought up the whole “food desert” debate. 

    Nice going, Fooducate!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1038674855 Sheri Fisher

    Oh nooooooo!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1038674855 Sheri Fisher

    oH nooooo! There is too  much abuse as it is.

  • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

    Absolutely NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Gerome

      Why not, Nancy? People spent time constructing and sharing the reasons behind their views here. What’s yours?

      • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

        Look further up in the comments Gerome.

  • Lisa

    Coming soon: 2012. Finally.

  • http://twitter.com/dgrreen Daniel Green

    I admittedly have not read through all of the comments on this post but, prior to its publishing, Yum Brands backed off their push to allow food stamps to be used for fast food purchases.

    Source: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/162791/yum-brands-drops-food-stamps-push.html

  • http://twitter.com/dgrreen Daniel Green

    I admittedly have not read through all of the comments on this post but, prior to its publishing, Yum Brands backed off their push to allow food stamps to be used for fast food purchases.

    Source: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/162791/yum-brands-drops-food-stamps-push.html

  • REV123

    Our church hands out fast food cards to the homeless because they can get into some place that is warm and do so with dignity.

    • Let them eat cake??

      THAT is humane; what good would a big chunk of cheese (from a food pantry, say) do for a person who has no utensil with which to make use of it? Or a jar of peanut butter?

      So I don’t think that it’s the homeless that cause the debate here.

  • CT

    I am thankful that I have a decent job and am able to provide for myself and those in my household, and to do so with dignity and the freedom to make my own choices.  I know it is naive, but I wish this wasn’t even an issue. 

    I am a little disappointed with those who advocate putting food on “lists” — deciding what is acceptable or not acceptable.  Should boxed cake mix be on the “not approved” list?  Should flour, sugar and eggs be on the “not approved” list because they could be used to make a cake? I don’t think foods are always black and white like that. 

    • Jes_420_01

      I wish it was not an issue. But look at the world today and it’s condition. We have overweight families and now we want to contribute to that by making foodstamps acceptable in fast food places. I am a full time employed person and so is my husband with both bachelor degrees and we are on food stamps barely making it. Never thought we would be here but…when we do buy groceries we try for healthy options it’s not about dictating what we buy it’s about buying or should be about making the smart decisions with what you are given. Yes it does infuriate me when I see a family with food stamps buying sodas and candy but again it goes back to education about proper nutrition and time for these families. All I’m trying to say is sometimes you have no choice and take the hand out but you try to use it wisely. But yes I do not agree with fast food food stamps it just adds to the bigger problem of a bigger picture America is in right now…

  • http://twitter.com/Grocerant Steven Johnson

    Wow, interesting read.  For more on this topic visit about.com Foodstamps

  • Peter H.

    What a relief these “fast food stamps” haven’t been approved (for now).  Check out this video and the other fast food related videos at nutritionfacts.org (non-commercial, science-based resource):

    http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/fast-food-tested-for-carcinogens/

    • Jennifer G.

      RE: NutritionFacts.org–great site. Speaking of “fast food stamps” and KFC…we’re seeing arsenic in the news right now b/c of apple juice…but in fact, there’s more arsenic in chicken (see http://nutritionfacts.org/?p=4424).

  • Let them eat cake??

    I’m disappointed that the blog post itself has not been updated with the fact that YUM has stopped this action. The blog post headline continues to appear prominently, and the basic mission of Fooducate is not well served by this failure to update.

    http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/162791/yum-brands-drops-food-stamps-push.html