Supplement food stamp bill
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Dietary supplements would be eligible expenses for Food Stamp recipients under legislation introduced by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) July 28. The "Food Stamp Vitamin & Mineral Improvement Act" (S 1546) states that "the dietary patterns of Americans often do not comply" with the vitamin and mineral intakes recommended by FDA. Hatch noted in a recent address to industry that securing Food Stamp coverage for supplements is one part of his four-part plan to protect Americans' access to health products ("The Tan Sheet" July 25, 2005, p. 14). Harkin introduced similar legislation in 1999. The senator also introduced the provision as an amendment to the 2001 farm bill, but it was deleted in May 2002 before the legislation passed (1"The Tan Sheet" May 6, 2002, In Brief)..