USDA Rules Would Increase Food Stamp Access to Healthy Foods
WASHINGTON (AP) — Retailers that accept food stamps would have to start stocking a wider variety of healthy foods or face the loss of consumers under proposed rules expected to be announced by the Agriculture Department on Tuesday.
The rules are designed to ensure people who use food stamps have better access to healthy foods. But they don't dictate what people buy or eat.
A person using food stamp dollars could still purchase as much junk food as they wanted, but they would at least have more options in the store to buy fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats and bread.
The rules would require stores to stock at least 168 items that the Agriculture Department considers healthy.