Over one million Tennesseans might have to give up free cake!

United States
January 16, 2017 7:14am CST
Thank God I'm not one of those one million.....here's the rest of the story. A lawmaker in Tennessee is proposing legislation that anyone who is on the 'Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program' (food stamps) will no longer be able to buy certain sugary products with their food stamps. They list things such that have high caloric content and little to no nutritional value such as soda, cookies, candy, etc. In other words, all the good junk food. When this was put on Facebook a day ago people (those on food stamps I'm sure) went off the deep end. They said things like: "our kids already have nothing, now you want to take away candy".... No official 'list' of what would be considered banned foods has been presented. As someone suggested, if ice cream is banned why not milk? Isn't ice cream made from milk? (Ice cream is also made with heavy cream and lots of sugar and other calories but what do I know!) The program is designed to 'assist' those in need to feed their families...I guess if you are the recipient of such assistance you feel you should be able to buy whatever you want. But the definition in the link provided explains what the program is about and it's not eating junk food. One thing I know for sure - Tennessee was recently voted the most obese state in the union. I see what people (paying cash or food stamps) put in their carts...lots and lots of junk food. If parents want their kids to grow up and be healthy they need to feed them better. Photo: pixabay.com/en/cake-colorful-colourful-dessert-1835448/ http://www.tn.gov/humanservices/topic/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
14 people like this
13 responses
@BelleStarr (61050)
• United States
16 Jan 17
I think this is one of the smartest pieces of legislation I have ever heard.
2 people like this
• United States
16 Jan 17
I guess time will tell if it goes through or not.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Jan 17
I tend to agree with lawmakers. Food stamps should be for solid food like chicken, fruit, veggies, bread, the basics not donuts and candy and chips.
2 people like this
• United States
16 Jan 17
That's the way it was designed. I don't think this new law will ever pass just a gut feeling.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19706)
• India
16 Jan 17
That cake in the photo is appetizing.One piece once is not going to hurt?
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 17
Buying that cake will result in a fine...if the law passes.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19706)
• India
16 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill Can we pay the fine after having the cake? Just asking.I am not in America.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 17
@silvermist LOL - I think the person getting fined would have time to eat the cake!!
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17100)
• New Zealand
17 Jan 17
It does sound sensible to me. School tuck shops here are no longer allowed to sell junk food.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 17
See, it's happening all over. That's good.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Jan 17
I dont have an issues with this, I mean let them get stuff and make cake, but preprocessed snack items like premade cake and chips? one doesnt need that.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 17
If you start with young kids by not giving the sweets they learn they don't need them.
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill or learn to cook, some sweet stuff is ok, but as much as ppl eat now? nope
@Daljinder (23222)
• Bangalore, India
16 Jan 17
I see what they are trying to do. Promoting healthy food intake is good considering the obese population as you mentioned. But I also feel for the "candy" part for people who live on food stamps. Kids birthdays and other stuff .....and they won't have cakes and sugary delicacies?
• United States
16 Jan 17
They can buy those items with their money - just not with food stamps.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 17
@Daljinder I don't know what they do or what they spend money on. I can only tell you that the people on FB that I know from there (not in person) seem to have enough money/food stampers to eat well and have fat kids.Most have rent subsidies or live in cheap housing. I am only talking abut those around here.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23222)
• Bangalore, India
16 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill There in lies the problem then. If they are using food stamps to save money for something equally important like rents, bills, etc. then wouldn't they consider cake or sweets as waste of hard earned money?
@Hate2Iron (15731)
• Canada
17 Jan 17
I think that I have to agree with the law makers too. Unfortunately, it is always the junk that is affordable and the fruits and veggies that are difficult to work into a budget!!
• United States
17 Jan 17
I don't know, junk food isn't cheap any longer either.
@LeaPea2417 (36189)
• Toccoa, Georgia
16 Jan 17
I hope it gets passed. Food Stamps should not be used for "fluff" foods , but only for nutritional foods.
• United States
16 Jan 17
Do you know if GA has such a rule?
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36189)
• Toccoa, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill I am not sure. I will have to search that online.
• United States
17 Jan 17
@LeaPea2417 Since we're neighbors I was curious.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
17 Jan 17
Many people in the USA have terrible eating habits, not just the poor. However, this might be an opportunity for those on assistance to improve their health. As you mentioned about the food carts, filled with trash. Real food is almost the last purchase for many 'too busy to prepare' meals these days.
• United States
17 Jan 17
I have always enjoyed cooking - I don't like to buy pre-cooked foods. I had time to cook from scratch when I worked and certainly now. People are just lazy.
@Tampa_girl7 (48786)
• United States
16 Jan 17
Food stamps should definitely be used for food and not junk, but I think that an occasional cake for a child's birthday perhaps will do no harm.
• United States
16 Jan 17
They can buy anything they want, cake included, by using their own money.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48786)
• United States
16 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill someone on food stamps may not have extra money . Receiving food stamps frees up their money to pay rent, utilities and other bills. At least a box of cake mix wouldn't take long to save for if this restriction comes to pass.
• United States
16 Jan 17
@Tampa_girl7 You can buy one for a buck in the dollar store. The people I know of who were having this discussion on FB have the money....so they are among some who are probably using the system and shouldn't be on them to begin with.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 17
Healthy eating and good nutrition should be a priority for parents feeding their families. Junk food shouldn't be part of the food stamp approved list as far as I'm concerned.
• United States
16 Jan 17
I agree now to find out if TN gov. feels the same way.
@JudyEv (323043)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Jan 17
It's a pity people can't be relied upon to buy decent food with their food stamps.
• United States
17 Jan 17
They want want want...they don't think think think !!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323043)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill And it seems to make you cross cross cross!!
@tzwrites (4836)
• Romania
16 Jan 17
I don't think anyone has the right to tell others what they are allowed to buy
• United States
16 Jan 17
If they are using the government's money to buy those things (my tax money( perhaps they do.