Proposal seeks healthy juice options for food program users
News release from Alderman Khalif J. Rainey
The Judiciary and Legislation Committee will discuss a resolution on Monday (January 8) that urges the United States government to permit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase natural, freshly prepared fruit and vegetable juices.
The Judiciary and Legislation Committee meeting Monday starts at 1:30 p.m. in room 301-B at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.
The resolution – authored by Alderman Khalif J. Rainey – directs the city’s Department of Administration – Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change policy to permit SNAP participants to purchase fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
Alderman Rainey said SNAP participants are allowed to purchase soft drinks but should also be allowed healthier options such as fresh and natural juices. “Juice bars that sell an array of fresh juices are opening in areas of the City of Milwaukee where many residents are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients,” he said.
“It makes healthy sense to allow SNAP recipients the option of purchasing juices for themselves and their children instead of sugar-filled soft drinks,” the alderman said.
The Common Council recently approved moving forward with a measure sponsored by Alderman Rainey to look at ways of combating the problem of food deserts in certain areas of the City of Milwaukee. The SNAP fresh juices issue is closely tied to that problem, he said. “Milwaukee’s inner city residents and families deserve to have healthy options, and more availability of healthy and nutritious foods and beverages,” he said.
Monday’s meeting will be televised live on the City Channel (Channel 25 on Spectrum Cable and on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99) in the City of Milwaukee. It can also be viewed, via streaming video, on the city website at www.city.milwaukee.gov/Channel25.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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