Rep Gill: Should SNAP Dollars be Spent on Sodas?
Ms. Platanino: The purpose of the SNAP program is to provide families to have food and beverages.
Rep Gill: Should it be spent on sugary sodas?
Ms. Platanino: I am happy to talk about hunger and nutrition, but not dictate what Americans should or should not eat or may have access to.
Rep Gill: I’m asking if SNAP program tax dollars should be used to pay for sodas.
Ms. Platanino: 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.
Rep Gill: Do People on the SNAP Program Need Sugary Sodas to Survive?
Ms. Platanino: Some of them do, who do have low blood egg use, who may have kidney issues.
Rep Gill: Do you think they need Coca-Cola to survive? Do you think that’s the most appropriate use of our tax dollars for the SNAP Program?
Ms. Platanino: I am not a physician, but medical records and expertise
Rep Gill: You were just citing the health needs, apparently, of the American people. So do the American people need Coca-Cola to survive?
Ms. Platanino: I did not say that.
Rep Gill: I’m asking you. I’m giving you the opportunity to say yes or no.
Ms. Platanino: I will not answer for individuals and their choices.
Rep Gill: You think that there are some Americans on the SNAP Program who need Coca-Cola to survive? Is that your testimony?
Ms. Platanino: I am happy to talk about the food and nutrition needs that individuals have.
Rep Gill: You just don’t know. I think most people can rationally say that you don’t need Coca-Cola to survive. Wouldn’t you agree?
Ms. Platanino: I agree that we have a hunger crisis and that we need to address it by ensuring that individuals have the food resources that they need.
Rep Gill: Got it. One of those is sugary Coca-Cola.
Rep Gill: What Does SNAP Stand for?
Ms. Platanino: It’s the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Rep Gill: What’s Nutritional About Coca-Cola?
Ms. Platanino: I am not a nutritionist. I am a food security expert in ensuring that individuals have the food resources that they need.
Rep Gill: This is a common sense question. All of these have been common sense questions. I’m just asking you, is there nutritional value to sugary sodas? It’s a yes or no question.
Ms. Platanino: I am not an expert. I would have to look at the dietary guidelines.
Rep Gill: You’re not an expert. I don’t think that there’s nutritional value to sugary sodas. I think most people in this room would agree with that assessment. You have no opinion?
Ms. Platanino: I’m here to talk about the food needs and the SNAP Program hunger crisis that individuals here in America are facing.
Rep Gill: 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?
Ms. Platanino: I think that focusing on soda when people are going hungry.
Rep Gill: A lot of our SNAP Program tax dollars are spent on soda. That’s why I’m asking about it. 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 SNAP Program tax dollars and that that does not, in fact, make the American people more healthy.
Ms. Platanino: I won’t answer because there’s no data proving that.
Rep Gill: Do you need data to determine whether drinking soda is healthy? I’m sorry. It’s a serious question. Do you believe that perhaps drinking sodas every day is healthy?
Ms. Platanino: The worst health outcome is hunger. When individuals don’t have the resources.
Rep Gill: Do you satiate hunger with Coca-Cola?
Ms. Platanino: I did not say that.
Rep Gill: You said that the worst health outcome is hunger, and I’m asking you about sugary sodas.
Ms. Platanino: I’m focusing on the nutrition needs and making sure that children have the resources from the SNAP Program.
Rep Gill: Is Your Organization – SNAP Program – Funded by Soda Soft Drink Makers?
Ms. Platanino: I am not in charge of development, but no.
Rep Gill: It’s not? Okay. Is your SNAP Program organization funded by organizations that make money from food stamps? Do organizations who profit off of food stamps fund your organization? Or businesses?
Ms. Platanino: I mean, I can’t comment to that. Happy to talk about the resources that need it.
Rep Gill: Does General Mills fund your SNAP Program organization?
Ms. Platanino: I don’t have access to that information.
Rep Gill: I do. It’s right here.
Rep Gill: They do fund your organization. Do they profit off of food stamps?
Ms. Platanino: Retailers are the major beneficiaries.
Rep Gill: You think that that’s a conflict of interest?
Ms. Platanino: That’s where EBT dollars are utilized.
Rep Gill: Yes, and they’re profiting off of your advocacy. Do you think that that’s a conflict of interest? I think most people think that’s a conflict of interest. I know you don’t want to answer.
