WASHINGTON, USA – US secretary of agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by US secretary of health and human services Robert F. Kennedy. Jr., and national nutrition advisor at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dr Ben Carson, on Tuesday, to announce the USDA’s commencement of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Strategic Partnerships, an effort which encourages the private sector to participate in educating the American people about the importance of the Guidelines and how they serve as the foundation to better eating.
Additionally, today’s event featured an update on the impending Stocking Standards final rule, a rule that holds any retailer interested in accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits accountable to a higher minimum standard of staple food stocking requirements. And lastly, Secretary Rollins was proud to sign four new SNAP restriction waivers for Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, and Wyoming.
“The Make America Healthy Again movement has brought together the private sector, including retailers, the medical community, farmers, rancher, producers, and the media to play a key role in encouraging healthier families and healthier communities,” said secretary Rollins. “Today’s announcement not only invites the private sector to educate on the importance of the DGAs, but also adds four new states to SNAP restriction waivers, and highlights the impending rule that will increase the number of real food options retailers must carry. Real food is the foundation of healthier families and healthier communities.”
“If retailers take taxpayer dollars, they must put real food on their shelves,” said secretary Kennedy. “SNAP exists to nourish vulnerable Americans—not bankroll the products driving our chronic disease crisis. Today, we are putting nutrition back at the center of SNAP and giving millions of families greater access to real food.”
“As national nutrition advisor to the department of agriculture, I commend secretary Rollins’ work to Make America Healthy Again,” said Dr Carson. “For over 12 years, minimum stocking standards in retailers have been debated. This impending rule is practical, doable, and will provide families with new, more healthful choices no matter where they shop. Complementing this are four new restriction waivers, making certain highly processed junk food is not eligible for purchase with taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits.”