Kerri Waldron
A lack of strong focus on nutrition is one reason why the state of Iowa said it will not participate in a federal program that provides food assistance for kids during the summer. In a press release Friday, the state said it has notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it will not participate in the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education said in a Friday news release.Families with children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals — would be able to receive $40 per child per month to buy food during the summer.In a news release issued Friday, the state said a lack of focus on nutrition, is one reason Iowa will not take part in summer EBT.Iowa Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia wrote that “Iowa’s kids need consistent access to nutritionally dense food, and their families need to feel supported to make healthy choices around food and nutrition.””Another benefit card addressed to children is not the way to take on this issue,” Garcia said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees Summer EBT. According to the USDA, people who receive benefits through the program would be able to buy the same food as SNAP recipients.SNAP recipients can buy food like fruits, vegetables and meat with their benefits. They cannot buy foods that are hot at the time of purchase, alcohol and nonfood items, among other things. Iowa Hunger Coalition Chair Luke Elzinga said he agrees with the state when they say SNAP, and therefore Summer EBT, lacks restrictions. “There’s not a whole lot of restrictions on what foods you cannot buy when it comes to SNAP,” Elzinga said.But, he said he doesn’t believe that is a reason for the state to not participate in the program. He said more restrictions on these types of programs won’t make people eat healthier. He argued giving Iowans more benefits to be able to afford healthy food will do the trick.”I think most Iowans should probably be eating more fruits and vegetables,” Elzinga said. “They’re really expensive for a lot of folks.” In a statement made to KCCI, spokesman for the governor’s office, Kollin Crompton, emphasized the importance of nutritional requirements over restrictions. He said: “There are no nutritional requirements for the Summer EBT card that would be mailed directly to children. While they could purchase fruits and vegetables, there is no requirement that these nutrient rich foods are purchased. Yet, they are restricted from purchasing prepared meals.”In Friday’s statement, the state said, “They will continue to support Iowa children eligible for food assistance year-round by enhancing and expanding already existing childhood nutrition programs.” Crompton explained how those programs have a stronger focus on nutrition than Summer EBT. He said:”The Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option, already run through the state, are required to provide Milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats / proteins – all based around age-appropriate meal patterns. These nutritional standards provide well balanced, prepared meals for children in a healthy, safe environment.”
A lack of strong focus on nutrition is one reason why the state of Iowa said it will not participate in a federal program that provides food assistance for kids during the summer.
In a press release Friday, the state said it has notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it will not participate in the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education said in a Friday news release.
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Families with children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals — would be able to receive $40 per child per month to buy food during the summer.
In a news release issued Friday, the state said a lack of focus on nutrition, is one reason Iowa will not take part in summer EBT.
Iowa Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia wrote that “Iowa’s kids need consistent access to nutritionally dense food, and their families need to feel supported to make healthy choices around food and nutrition.”
“Another benefit card addressed to children is not the way to take on this issue,” Garcia said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees Summer EBT. According to the USDA, people who receive benefits through the program would be able to buy the same food as SNAP recipients.
SNAP recipients can buy food like fruits, vegetables and meat with their benefits. They cannot buy foods that are hot at the time of purchase, alcohol and nonfood items, among other things.
Iowa Hunger Coalition Chair Luke Elzinga said he agrees with the state when they say SNAP, and therefore Summer EBT, lacks restrictions.
“There’s not a whole lot of restrictions on what foods you cannot buy when it comes to SNAP,” Elzinga said.
But, he said he doesn’t believe that is a reason for the state to not participate in the program. He said more restrictions on these types of programs won’t make people eat healthier. He argued giving Iowans more benefits to be able to afford healthy food will do the trick.
“I think most Iowans should probably be eating more fruits and vegetables,” Elzinga said. “They’re really expensive for a lot of folks.”
In a statement made to KCCI, spokesman for the governor’s office, Kollin Crompton, emphasized the importance of nutritional requirements over restrictions. He said:
“There are no nutritional requirements for the Summer EBT card that would be mailed directly to children. While they could purchase fruits and vegetables, there is no requirement that these nutrient rich foods are purchased. Yet, they are restricted from purchasing prepared meals.”
In Friday’s statement, the state said, “They will continue to support Iowa children eligible for food assistance year-round by enhancing and expanding already existing childhood nutrition programs.”
Crompton explained how those programs have a stronger focus on nutrition than Summer EBT. He said:
“The Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option, already run through the state, are required to provide Milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats / proteins – all based around age-appropriate meal patterns. These nutritional standards provide well balanced, prepared meals for children in a healthy, safe environment.”
Source: kcci.com
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