Bid to curb junk food, soda on food stamps in Arkansas fails

Proposed legislation to prevent food-stamp recipients from using their benefits to purchase junk foods and soda died in a Senate committee Wednesday.

After the Arkansas Healthy Food Improvement Act, or House Bill 1035, passed the House last month, its sponsor, Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, said she expected a tougher fight in the upper chamber.

Asked about the fate of her bill, Bentley said lobbying by grocers -- who argued that the cost of implementation would fall on their stores -- and soft-drink manufacturers had sunk the measure.

After it was filed late last year, HB1035 became one of the most sponsored pieces of legislation heading into the regular legislative session, which started Jan. 9. Proponents said it would help cut obesity-related medical costs in Arkansas, one of the nation's most overweight states.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/feb/09/bid-to-curb-junk-food-soda-on-food-stam/?f=news-politics