In a peer-reviewed research perspective, Miner proposes policy changes for two agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture - the Food Stamp Program and the Farm Services Agency.
The former provides money for food without promoting healthy diets, Miner says, while the latter promotes unhealthy diets without reducing the cost of food.
"Does it really make sense to support the production of products such as high-fructose corn syrup by giving corn growers direct subsidy payments, and to support the purchase of products like Coca-Cola by giving food stamp recipients benefits but no incentives to spend extra for nutrients instead of maximize calories?"
In a carefully researched article, Miner notes that obesity and diet-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease disproportionately affect low-income consumers.
Yet food assistance programs like food stamps do little to promote the consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole-grain products, while U.S. commodity payments encourage the consumption of high-calorie, unhealthy, processed foods.
Read more from this post.
