Food Security and SNAPs

Who worried about food securtiy first?

Bobby Kennedy when he went south

What is the definition of food security?

Access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy lifesty

How is food security determined?

A questionnaire with outcomes that are positive or negative.

What do you see with first in food insecure?

Low secure housholds have lower quality foods (same quantity)

What was SNAP orignially?

The food stamp program where for 1 dollar you got 1.50 of stamps for all goods and surplus foods

Why did food stamps start?

To get rid of surplus generated by FDR.

What can be bought with SNAP?

• Foods for at-home preparation

• Seeds and plants which produce foo

What is the only live thing to purchase with SNAP?

Lobster/shellfish in store

What cannot be bought with SNAP

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco

• Any nonfood (pet food, paper products, households supplies

such as cleaning supplies)

• Vitamins, supplements, and medicines

• Food sold to be eaten at the store (in-store dining)

• Hot/premade deli foods

Where can SNAP be used?

Pretty much anywhere that sells food and get approved

How is SNAP determined?

You must be 130% or below poverty line

How much of grocery purcchases is expected out of max SNAP recipients?

30%

How is SNAP benefit amount determined?

They use the Thridty SHopper Model to know a adequate quality diet using SNAP.

How does SNAP incentivise working?

While you get less SNAP benefit, you gain increased income and should have higher overall benefit

Has SNAP reduced food insecurity?

Most resources say yes as participation is linked to lower rates of insecurity

Does SNAP improve food quality?

Most studies shows it does not and SNAP reciepients commonly eat worse diets.

What happens with cash vs SNAP in experimental designs?

Over-consuming households tend to purchase less calories when

given cash rather a voucher.

• Under-consuming households tend to consume more food under a

cash system (but not significant).

Diet quality increases under a cash system, most likely due to

purchasing less calorie-dense food

What happens due to SNAPs monthly nature?

80% of funds are spent within the first 2 weeks

How are SNAP and cash different?

They are not fungible in that SNAP is locked to a single line of purchasing. People spend them differently

Does SNAP ever become fungible?

No, they always use it differently than cash.

What is differene in patient and impatient housholds?

Perfectly patient households will have a smooth spending path.

- Impatient households discount tomorrow’s consumption at a higher

rate – the discount factor is inconsistent across time

What replaces grocery store purchases further into month?

People decide to eat out instead.