Maine Department of Health and Human Service is going after soda and junk food purchased with food stamps.
Commissioner Mary Mayhew announced Monday that the agency is seeking a federal waiver to prevent the purchase of unhealthy food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, called SNAP for short.
She acknowledged it's a longshot. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP program, has never granted such a waiver.
The Maine Legislature has previously defeated proposals to seek a waiver after encountering significant resistance by advocates for the poor, soda manufacturers and the trade group representing grocers.
DHHS said that Maine spent more than $115 million in medical claims related to obesity in its Medicaid program, and 88 percent of Medicaid recipients receive SNAP benefits.
Maine Wants to Ban Food Stamp Purchases of Soda, Junk Food
The state's health commissioner acknowledged that the effort is a longshot
Copyright AP - Associated Press