From the Pittsburgh Gazette, there is an article on grocery stores offering healthier foods towards individuals who receive foods through food stamps. Most of the customers who are on food stamps usually purchase small household items like batteries, razors and deodorant. The majority will purchase snacks such as chips and crackers. Most of the snacks are very unhealthy and contain a lot of cholesterol, fats and sodium. A new change from the US Department – agriculture is administrating a new program towards food stamps where healthy food is an option available to these individuals. According to one market, 70% of their customers purchase food using stamps. This new program from the US Department is planning to offer such healthier types of food like canned beans, rice, eggs, milk and tuna. Also included are fresh fruits like apples and bananas. The fresh fruits will be strategically placed near the cash register. Many believe this is a great idea because the choice of having healthier food is important especially if the person has kids. Also the market should be in great shape to follow this new program because of the amount of variety that is found in the food market today in terms of the healthier side.
The program has potential to make a massive impact in poor neighborhoods who have small food markets in the area. The markets can get into this new food stamp project by offering at least 84 healthy food items in their inventory. This is the new change from the old program of only having a required 12 healthy items. Furthermore, the supermarket must have items in the four food groups. Some of the common foods in the four groups are the likes of vegetables and fruits(apple and bananas), chicken, fish, bread and dairy. Apparently other advocates wanted a minimum of 170 healthy food items in the markets inventory in order to comply into the new program. Ultimately everyone compromised for the minimum to be at 84 food items, which is feasible for small supermarkets in smaller neighborhoods.
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