In the next ten years, Trump’s administration is proposing to slash federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by increasing eligibility requirements and by imposing additional work requirements. The total expected cuts is $193 billion, more than 25 percent of federal spending currently going towards people in need relying on food stamps.

Food Research & Action Center Says No to House Budget Resolution Attack on SNAP, School Meals, and Other Low-Income Programs

“The House Budget Committee’s fiscal year 2018 budget resolution is an all-out assault on struggling American families that would make hunger in this country far worse. The proposal combines a huge tax cut that is heavily tilted toward the rich with tens of billions of dollars in safety net program cuts, including “reconciliation” instructions to committees with jurisdiction over SNAP, school meals, TANF, SSI, low-income tax credits, and other crucial supports. The proposal also includes large cuts in domestic discretionary programs and nearly $2 trillion dollars of cuts in Medicare and Medicaid.”

Hurting the Hungry by the Register Gaurd

“Oregon would be particularly hurt by cuts in SNAP funding, for two reasons. First, it is one of 14 states that have a higher level of food insecurity than the national average, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Second, anybody who has followed the state’s budgeting process is painfully aware that Oregon cannot replace the proposed cut in federal spending with its own money.”

Toxic Lead Found in Baby Food Reported Last Month by the EDF and Yet Still Little to No Intention to Change Standards by FDA

“The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a non-profit group, analyzed FDA data and found that lead was detected in 20 percent of baby food samples versus 14 percent for other foods. Baby food versions of carrots, as well as apple and grape juice made for babies, also had more samples with detectable lead levels than non-baby versions. Lead, which is toxic to a child’s developing brain, was most commonly found in root vegetables including sweet potatoes and carrots, cookies including arrowroot cookies and teething biscuits, and fruit juices including grape, mixed fruit, apple, and pear. Of all kinds of baby food, cereal had the lowest rate of lead detection. It’s important to note that none of the samples had lead amounts higher than the FDA’s allowable levels—and some had no detectable levels at all. The FDA has been monitoring the amount of lead in food for decades and reports that the vast majority of foods analyzed between 2005-2013 (88 percent) had levels too low to even be identified.”

But the EDF says, and I agree, that the FDA needs to update the allowable limits based on the current science, which shows there is no safe blood level of lead!  

“The FDA limits are decades old and don’t reflect what we know now,” says Jennifer Lowry, MD, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Environmental Health and Chief of Medical Toxicology at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. “It’s now recognized that lead is more toxic than we thought.”

Take action by spreading awareness of the discrepancies running rampant in the Food and Drug Administration. We as consumers need to hold them and other powers to be accountable by investigating and not turning a blind eye to repeated violations and low standards. Check out the Center for Progressive Reform and how you can stay informed on these important issues!