RESTAURANTS ARE TARGETING FOOD STAMP CUSTOMERS

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- More and more U.S. restaurants say they want to be allowed to accept food stamps as the entitlement program continues to grow.

USA Today reports restaurants have not typically accepted food stamps, distributed under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as federal rules generally prohibit their use to buy prepared foods.

But since the 1970s, the federal government has let states decide whether to allow disabled, elderly and homeless people to buy restaurant meals with food stamps, USDA spokeswoman Jean Daniel said.

Four states -- Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan -- now allow use of food stamps at restaurants, USA Today said.

The newspaper reported federal lobbying records show Louisville-based Yum! Brands, whose restaurants include Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silver's and Pizza Hut, is trying to get more restaurants involved.

"It makes perfect sense to expand a program that's working well in California, Arizona and Michigan, enabling the homeless, elderly and disabled to purchase prepared meals with SNAP benefits in a restaurant environment," Yum! spokesman Jonathan Blum said.

From 2005 to 2010, the number of businesses certified by SNAP rose from about 156,000 to nearly 209,000, while food stamp benefits increased from $28.5 billion to $64.7 billion.

The National Restaurant Association supports the effort by Yum! but the National Association of Convenience Stores does not.

The idea drew mixed views among others.

Kelly Brownell, director of Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, said encouraging more people to eat fast food is not good for their health.

But Edward Cooney of the Congressional Hunger Center said, "(Opponents) think going hungry is better? I'm solidly behind what Yum! is doing."

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[T64K]

Tell u what. The government could even create jobs by putting together a new department that has people to register kitchen appliences with the government. They could do this by way of the utilities bill people pay. when people pay their bills there could be some way to notify that perticular agency that the stove is inoperable or the oven is acting up, send a government issue repair man (another government created job) and do this for a year or so to see how it fits into our situation.

[T64K]

1st off how do the homeless even get a card cause u need to identisy yourself as a citizen and how many homeless do you know have proper documentation? I was homeless once and had zilch other than my drivers license. they relly need to set it up so that you get one type of card or another depending on the situation because i doubt that everyone is gonna use it to buy unprepaired food even if theres a fully functioning kitchen.(gas or electric)

[jfsfrnd]

This program is ONLY for homeless, seniors and disabled who either have no cooking facilities or can't otherwise cook meals.

[rfarebrother]

Oh SNAP!

[adandy98]

so can small mom&pop restaurants accept food stamps

[DJKID777]

why not shit food stamp still money business only care about money anyway

[jfsfrnd]

This is ONLY for people who don't have cookin facilities or otherwise can't cook food like SENIORS, DISABLED OR HOMELESS.

[sweetsface]

Fast food companies need to accept food stamps or they're going to go out of business. People are not buying a lot of fast food now these days!! If this happens, there will be no more fast food places left. Food stamps stimulate the economy. People with jobs can't afford to buy fast food. People at the fast food places will lose their jobs. They will have to apply for food stamps. That means no more jobs at fast food places.

[youngkhico]

times is hard i think so

[legalizeshemp420]

@InspiredMuse74 Our money so it should be our decision but I agree with you mostly. An obese population is easier to subjugate.