South Carolina – Fallout continues after Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order that bans purchasing certain foods with SNAP benefits. Anti-hunger organizations across South Carolina are condemning the new mandate, calling it harmful and counterproductive.
Omma-Salma Rahemtullah, Executive Director of FoodShare South Carolina, emphasized the tough decisions families make on tight budgets. “You can go to the grocery store and buy an extra-large frozen cheese pizza for five bucks, or you can get a head of broccoli and two oranges. What are you gonna buy to feed your family?” she said.
Governor McMaster announced on social media that the state will be “doing her part to make America healthy again,” explaining the order ensures federal tax dollars help families buy healthier, nutritious food instead of candy and sugary drinks. The new rules also ban energy drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages from SNAP benefits.
Sue Berkowitz, Founder and Director of Policy for the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, questioned the data behind McMaster’s decision. “I don’t know where he’s getting his data about people on SNAP or children on SNAP drink so much more sugary drinks,” she said. Berkowitz also expressed concerns about enforcement, asking, “It’s talking about products by the amount of grams of sugar that’s in the product. Who’s supposed to figure that out?”
Rahemtullah stressed the importance of educating those who rely on SNAP.
Education’s the way to go provide, snap Ed used to provide cooking classes, nutrition, education, and opportunities for people to get together and talk about health and talk about ways that they can improve their health,” she said.
Both anti-hunger organizations warn that the initiative to make South Carolina healthier could result in more hunger. Berkowitz added, “And I think rather than us trying to figure out ways to vilify folks on SNAP, what we want to do is think about how we protect people and make sure those who are going hungry don’t get disenfranchised.”
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