Millions of people live off of food stamps. It is necessary that the government provide these provisions to people in need, however, the freedom that comes with these food stamps is more dangerous than one might think. Food stamps can be helpful to most, but what about those who use them to buy soda and other types of unhealthy foods?

Something designed to help is contributing to high and rising numbers of diabetics and obese people in this country. These two detrimental issues are fueled by the sugary drinks that are available to those using food stamps.

Health commissioners Thomas Farley and Richard F. Daines spoke out against food stamps to the New York Times.

“The program, which is supposed to promote nutrition as well as reduce hunger,” Farley and Daines said, “has a serious flaw: food stamps can be used to buy soda and other sweetened drinks.”

Last year, the mayor of New York proposed a bill to ban the 1.7 million people using food stamps in New York from buying soda and other unhealthy drinks.

“In spite of the great gains we’ve made over the past eight years in making our communities healthier,” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said to the New York Times, “there are still two areas where we’re losing ground — obesity and diabetes.”

Yes, there are ethical issues with restrictions on food stamps, however, it is not sufficient to simply use posters and videos to stop the increasing obesity rates. At this point, action must be taken where it is possible.

“Some 57 percent of adults in New York City and 40 percent of children in New York City public schools are overweight or obese,” Farley and Daines said. “The numbers are especially high in low-income neighborhoods.”

The Agricultural Department denied this request from the mayor, saying that it would “perpetuate the myth” that all food stamp useres bought unhealthy foods.

This decision was based on upholding the image of those who bought healthily and used food stamps a healthy way. It makes the government’s decision to provide these rations easy to make because it draws the attention away from those who do not use food stamps in a healthy way.

The restriction of the proposal was like neglecting the future problems that people who use food stamps might face. The proposal was about promoting health consciousness among those who can be inclined to buy unhealthy foods.

Over 8 million dollars (IS THIS STAT RIGHT?) are attributed to obesity related diseases, that’s about $770 per household. The simple restriction of soft drinks and sodas are sure to bring this alarmingly large number down.

The restriction of soda on food stamps, while not currently in effect, is a necessary change to the entire system. The negative effects of obesity related diseases should be enough to show what the government is allowing the American people to purchase is hurting instead of helping.

By restricting the buying of sodas and soft drinks using food stamps, we are leaving an extra space in the pantry for the nutritional foods that everyone in America needs.

“At the least it would ensure that food stamps wouldn’t subsidize, in the name of nutrition,” Farley and Daines said, “a product that causes obesity and a lifetime of health problems.”