this post was submitted on 30 Apr 2025
1 points (100.0% liked)

News

38143 readers
1440 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil


Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.


2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.


Obvious biased sources will be removed at the mods’ discretion. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted separately but not to the post body. Sources may be checked for reliability using Wikipedia, MBFC, AdFontes, GroundNews, etc.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source. Clickbait titles may be removed.


Posts which titles don’t match the source may be removed. If the site changed their headline, we may ask you to update the post title. Clickbait titles use hyperbolic language and do not accurately describe the article content. When necessary, post titles may be edited, clearly marked with [brackets], but may never be used to editorialize or comment on the content.


5. Only recent news is allowed.


Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.


6. All posts must be news articles.


No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials, videos, blogs, press releases, or celebrity gossip will be allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Mods may use discretion to pre-approve videos or press releases from highly credible sources that provide unique, newsworthy content not available or possible in another format.


7. No duplicate posts.


If an article has already been posted, it will be removed. Different articles reporting on the same subject are permitted. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.


8. Misinformation is prohibited.


Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.


9. No link shorteners or news aggregators.


All posts must link to original article sources. You may include archival links in the post description. News aggregators such as Yahoo, Google, Hacker News, etc. should be avoided in favor of the original source link. Newswire services such as AP, Reuters, or AFP, are frequently republished and may be shared from other credible sources.


10. Don't copy entire article in your post body


For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] dan69@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

Interesting, why not start branding and labeling better that more products that have high content of X

[–] desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 year ago (7 children)

a stopped clock is right twice a day

[–] Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah I absolutely hate this guy, but agree with this. I don't know it just seems so logical. Others arguments replying to you aren't convincing at all.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Those things are unhealthy, but restricting them is policing what poor people eat. It's stigmatizing. Also, people will still buy these things because they're addictive. So they'll be paying out of pocket for it rather than using their SNAP benefits. It's a lose-lose.

[–] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 0 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Yeah, if the goal was actually to make people eat healthier, he'd be trying to limit the availability of those items to everyone, not just poor people.

Or not bow to special interests and support research on the negative health affects of these things.

[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Change SNAP from money to a system that says "X gets _lbs of raw meat, _pieces of fresh vegetables, _pieces of raw fruit etc". The inventory systems in stores know what is being rung up so I don't see why it couldn't work. It also means SNAP automatically adjusts for inflation and regional pricing. Probably won't stop people selling their SNAP for cash though.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Or he'd be increasing the availability of healthy food instead of taking things away

[–] iopq@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

No matter how available it is, people just eat what they like. If society is paying for it, might as well make it healthy

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (16 children)

I dont get your argument. How's it stigmatizing? Why should someone be able to spend it all on energy drinks and starburst? Just doesn't make sense.

I support aggressively increasing food stamps for anyone in need. But I'd also support aggressive regulation, like no candy and shit. It just makes sense to me but maybe I'm missing something.

load more comments (16 replies)
[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

People on food stamps aren't buying these things because it's fun, but because it's cheap, easy calories because they're homeless or working three jobs and don't have the time to cook real food. The clock is not right here.

[–] iopq@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, they are buying them because they want to. I used to buy milk and cereal. It has sugar, but it's 3 grams per serving instead of like 15.

Don't tell me you don't have time to pour a bowl of milk

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (4 replies)
[–] MyOpinion@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Let them buy what they want you damn Nazi.

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Next it will no sugary cereal, just oats and gruel for the peasantry.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

"Ingredients only, no finished products. You want to eat? Work for it!"

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 0 points 1 year ago (8 children)

It's not what every snap user wants. It's just that garbage products are calorie dense and need little to no preparation, and those things absolutely matter when working several jobs or being homeless and convincing someone to let you use their address because a permanent address is necessary.

[–] gibmiser@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (6 children)

More calories per dollar for things like rice beans pasta. It's a bit more complicated than that.

Convenience is king when you are constantly burned out and sleep deprived and "just need something good enough and easy"

[–] TheWeirdestCunt@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You're assuming that people have the time and space to prep rice, beans and pasta. Not everyone does.

[–] iopq@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think if we remove the cooked food restriction it would make sense

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 0 points 1 year ago

I'd also like to see how he addresses food deserts. I already saw an article suggesting 18-65 are going to lose benefits.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 0 points 1 year ago

You might also be living on the street or in a car and not have the means to actually cook.

Yeah, I'd say the bigger issue is low income people not having time to cook, and/or not having the ability to get to a decent grocery store.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Fucking hell, have you ever tried to live on rice and beans? You need half a dozen spices and salt just to make it taste like not sadness, plus prep time, prep space, prep bowls and pots, and then you need to wash everything. Compared with a frozen meal that cooks in the microwave and a disposable tray for serving, there's really no contest. A "rice and beans" lifestyle requires a stay-at-home partner who soaks beans and washes dishes.

It's a great frugal tip to stretch your grocery dollars, but if you're poor, it's not a moral failing to go with a cheap frozen meal.

[–] distantsounds@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I wish more people understood this. Beans are so good, but only if you can devote hours to them.

[–] dephyre@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I know this outside of the scope of the discussion, but you can cook dried beans in a instant pot in about an hour.

Obviously that's still going to be a struggle for anyone where time/space/equipment are a huge factor. But it's a big difference from letting them soak overnight.

[–] distantsounds@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Insta pot can help, but I don’t feel it add much value in the overall cook. Sautéing, caramelizing, deglazing, etc. takes time that no home-use kitchen gadget is going to help with. Soaking beans overnight is not the problem, as much as actual time it takes to make a meal. Planning, purchasing ingredients, prepping, cooking, cleaning…insta-pot is not worth the hype iykyk

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's just one of the myriad of recommendations people make because they don't understand the problem. People think that the simple trick that worked for them would solve similar problems for everyone. Worse, they get angry when their advice is met with resistance. It's like Napoleon feeding the alpacas.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You can make a relatively tasty rice with beans with canned beans and bit of salt in 10 minutes - if you are feeling fancy adding parsley will even move it to tasting good. I'm starting to suspect all the corn syrup is damaging american's taste buds beyond repair.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] iopq@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I lived on easy hamburger helper. Everything is in the package, just cook some ground beef in a pan and mix the rest of the stuff in.

It's not that hard, guys. You don't need to eat candy to survive

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (4 children)

That shit is full of sodium and really bad for you. Once they target sugar, what do you suppose is next?

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (5 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (7 replies)
[–] salacious_coaster@infosec.pub 0 points 1 year ago

Oh good, we'll have slightly less sugar-related inflammation while we all fucking die of bird flu

[–] Nougat@fedia.io 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Alaska does this (admittedly it's a separate system from snap) and most communities seem happy with the system.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Bellingdog@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

What goon-affiliated product will they be able to purchase with food stamps instead? Lee Greenwood Bibles? My Pillows?

[–] sunbrrnslapper@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I used to live in a kinda poor area. Lots of people on some sort of program. And that program had really restrictive rules about what you can and cannot buy. For example, you could buy Skippy peanut butter but not Skippy light peanut butter (whatever that is). It caused great confusion for the people who needed food, huge amounts of labor for the poor grocery person, and a long wait for the other shoppers in line - just so the government can save a few cents. Unbelievable.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

I thought it was already blocked? 🤔

Huh, guess not.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco

Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.

Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).

Foods that are hot at the point of sale

Any nonfood items such as:

Pet foods

Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.

Hygiene items, cosmetics

[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

There was time in my life when most of my food came from a public pantry. I know it's not the same as stamps, bit same principle.

Anyway, birthday rolls around; didn't think anything of it cuz I was in the "it's just another day..." phase of life, and even if I wanted to do something for it, I wouldn't have been able to afford it. Roll up to the pantry for that week's pickup, and they break out a fucking cake and a hand-written birthday card! Nothing crazy - maybe 6-inch diameter, enough for the wife and I to split. But that shit pulled my ass right out of a depression spell like nothing else came close to before or since.

When I finally got a reliable income coming in and paid off the critical stuff and got a little bit of savings, my first 'splurge' was a $1k donation to that pantry with a note saying that their assistance pretty much single-handedly saved me from homelessness and probably from suicide; and enabled me to take the steps I needed to get the job I have now and ultimately become self sufficient.

Food is more than just nutrients; and junk food is more than just food that's junk.

And pantries are bad ass. If anyone reading this is struggling and not yet using one, GO SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE! Many people are resistant to ask for help prior to hitting absolute rock bottom, but a little help now (even if you only-kind-of need it) could save you from needing a LOT of help later. They're also an awesome source of info on local resources - whatever your unique situation is, they can probably point you in the right direction to start getting shit under control.

...I should make another donation - shit's extra fucked nowadays.

[–] iopq@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I bet it would feel very different if you just used food stamps to buy your own cake

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›