# Should SNAP Benefits Pay for Sugary Soda - Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2120543509811789913 - Source account: [@VigilantFox](https://x.com/VigilantFox) - Source language: English - Duration: 4:56 - Published: 2026-11-12 - Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda ## Transcript [0:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda) Should SNAP dollars be spent on sodas? [0:05](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=5) The purpose of the SNAP program is to provide families to have food and beverages. [0:10](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=10) Should it be sent on-- spent on sugary sodas? [0:14](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=14) I am happy to talk about hunger and nutrition, but not dictate what Americans should or should not eat or may have access to. [0:19](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=19) I'm asking if tax dollars should be used to pay for sodas. [0:26](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=26) Taxpayers' money should be utilized to ensure that individuals have access to the food that they need to survive or may be accessible to them. [0:33](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=33) Do they need sugary sodas to survive? Some of them do, who do have low blood issues, who may have- Is that right? [0:38](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=38) -who have kidney issues. You think they need Coca-Cola to survive? [0:41](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=41) Do you think that's the most appropriate use of our tax dollars? [0:45](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=45) I am not a physician, but medical records and expertise- You're, you're just citing the health needs apparently of, of the American people. [0:52](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=52) So, do the American people need Coca-Cola to survive? [0:58](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=58) I did not say that. I said then- I'm asking you. [1:01](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=61) I'm giving you the opportunity to say yes or no. [1:05](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=65) I will not answer for individuals and their, uh, choices. [1:09](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=69) You, you think that there are some Americans who need Coca-Cola to survive? [1:12](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=72) Is that your testimony? I am happy to talk about the food and nutrition needs- You don't, you just don't know. -that individuals have. [1:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=78) You just don't know. I think most people can rationally say that you don't need Coca-Cola to survive. [1:24](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=84) Wouldn't you agree? I agree that we have a hunger crisis and that we need to address it, but ensuring that individuals have the food resource that they need. [1:34](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=94) Got it. And one of those is sugary Coca-Cola. [1:36](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=96) What does, what does SNAP stand for? It's the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. [1:41](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=101) What's nutritional about Coca-Cola? [1:48](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=108) I am not a nutritionist. I am a food security expert in ensuring that individuals have the food resources that they need. [1:53](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=113) I'm, I'm-- this is a common sense question. [1:56](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=116) All of these have been common sense questions. [1:58](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=118) I'm just asking you, is there nutritional value to sugary sodas? [2:06](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=126) There- It's a yes or no question. [2:10](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=130) I am not an expert. I would have to look at the dietary guidelines. [2:13](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=133) You're not an expert. I don't think that there's nutritional value to sugary sodas. [2:17](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=137) I think most people in this room would agree with that assessment. [2:21](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=141) But you, you have no opinion? I'm here to talk about the food needs and the hunger crisis that individuals here in America are facing. [2:28](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=148) Are you that ideologically dug in that you want our tax dollars paying for sugary sodas that you will not, in a straightforward way, admit that sugary sodas are not healthful for the American people? [2:42](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=162) I think that focusing on soda when people are going hungry- We spend a lot of our ta-- a lot of our tax dollars are spent on soda. [2:48](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=168) That's why I'm asking about it. We have- And you, you appear to be so ideologically dug in that you won't answer a simple question that that's not an appropriate use of our tax dollars and that that does not, in fact, make the American people more healthy. [3:07](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=187) I won't answer because there's no data sort of put proving that. [3:09](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=189) Do you need data to determine whether drinking soda is healthy? [3:14](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=194) I think- I'm sorry. It's a serious question. [3:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=198) Do you-- is, is there some, uh, do, do you believe that perhaps drinking sodas every day is healthy? [3:25](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=205) The worst health outcome is hunger. When individuals don't have the resources- Do you satiate hunger with Coca-Cola? [3:31](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=211) I did not say that. But you said that the worst health outcome is hunger, and I'm asking you about sugary sodas. [3:38](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=218) And I'm focusing on the nutrition needs and making sure that children have the resources- Is your organization funded by, um, soft drink makers? [3:48](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=228) I am not in charge of development, but no. It's not. Okay. [3:52](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=232) Is your, is your organization funded by, um, organizations that make money from food stamps? [4:05](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=245) Do, uh, organizations who profit off of food stamps fund your, your organization? [4:11](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=251) W- Or businesses? I mean, in the, in the-- I, I can't comment to that. [4:17](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=257) Happy to talk about the resources that need- Does General Mills fund, uh, your organization? [4:23](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=263) I don't have access to that information. I do. [4:25](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=265) It's right here. They do fund your organization. [4:29](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=269) Um, do they profit off of food stamps? Retailers are the major beneficiary. [4:34](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=274) Do you think that that's a conflict of interest? [4:37](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=277) That's where EBT dollars are utilized. Yes, and they're profiting off of your advocacy. [4:43](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=283) Do you think that that's a conflict of interest? [4:51](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=291) I think most people think that's a conflict of interest. [4:53](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/6YE6QZDOSkUi/en/should-snap-benefits-pay-for-sugary-soda?t=293) I know you don't want to answer. My time is up.