There is widespread belief among Americans that the government works best when it is more limited and efficient. The core of this involves balancing bloated budgets, cutting red tape and reining in federal overreach. And it’s those principles of freedom and individual liberty that can and should apply to how the nation structures the food supply and improves health.
Undoubtedly, government responsibilities must consider the costs to the budget and personal freedoms in any policy idea.
One instance involving these dynamics is the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s report. The document outlined many important areas while also previewing some prospective national directives, which will be detailed in August. Initiatives to study rising rates of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and other conditions in children are long overdue and are critical for helping the nation to pave the way to a healthier future.
Among many public health matters, the commission materials may address measures surrounding the government’s role in supplying nutrition benefits that families depend on, and provisions to assess the longstanding FDA scientific guidance on food ingredients.
SNAP, which puts food on the table for 41 million Americans monthly, certainly has room for improvement. The Department of Agriculture is right to target criminals defrauding American taxpayers and to ensure benefits are used exclusively for food. However, the possibility of curtailing how families can fill their grocery lists may prompt additional consequential questions regarding the objectives Americans seek.
Experts agree that restricting specific items from SNAP, like soft drinks, sports drinks or snacks, won’t make people healthier. It could have implications for bureaucracy, increasing program costs, and affecting veterans, seniors and Americans who rely on SNAP.
Data show that SNAP households make food choices that mirror the general population. Obesity rates continue to climb even as consumption rates of items such as sugar-sweetened beverages have declined. That tells us the problem isn’t one product or one aisle; it’s a bigger and more complex predicament.
For food ingredients — colors, sweeteners and more — the United States has a world-class system for data collection, scientific review and providing assurances about food safety. Maintaining these high levels of oversight is instrumental for ensuring that foods are safe.
In many ways, Americans are already taking responsibility for their health. Across income levels, they’re choosing healthier options. They are turning to zero-sugar drinks and asking better questions about what they eat. Transparency continues to be on the rise with new industry efforts to outline facts and scientific safety information about ingredients clearly. Resources like these enhance personal responsibility while underscoring the importance of education and trust.
Re-evaluating food ingredients additionally introduces questions about using substitutes that may elevate costs or prompt increasingly complex sourcing practices from outside the country. When it comes to production from China, for example, the administration is taking wise steps to deter Chinese entities from gaining greater ownership of U.S. farmland. On the other hand, food producers with limited flexibility may soon have to rely more heavily on replacement ingredients from China.
So, let’s take a broader look at our food supply and ensure that it remains strong for Americans. Let’s refine SNAP and make sure benefits help families in need. Undoubtedly, there’s an excellent opportunity to further promote nutrition and scientific certainty about what we eat.
In the interest of supporting improved outcomes, the Consumer Action for a Strong Economy is seeking to continue the dialogue on health policy by collecting perspectives from key stakeholders on the latest developments. Ultimately, we all want to ground public health policies in sound science and ensure they serve the best interests of children and families.
The ideals of limited government and reduced bureaucracy provide the right platform for reviving the nation’s health landscape, and we should all work together to support Americans’ interests and values.
