Food Stamps Should Be Spent on Food

If they ever finish arguing about immigration and the budget, members of Congress can be expected to turn to food stamps, which conservative Republicans want to cut and Democrats don't. For their own sake and to promote public health, both sides might want to focus on a simple reform that deserves bipartisan support: Require that food stamps be used for food.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, households receiving federal food-stamp benefits spend more money on soft drinks than on any other grocery item. Overall, they devote 9.3 percent of their food budgets to "sweetened beverages," which include sodas and iced teas, compared to 7.1 percent for households that don't receive benefits. The government estimates that beneficiaries spend $608.7 million a year on soft drinks and an additional $110 million on juices.