SNAP and Americans’ Health

In 1964, when Congress passed the Food Stamp Act, the country faced a problem of inadequate nutrition among low-income Americans due to insufficient food. In response, the Food Stamp Program—today known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—was created. Sixty years later, the nation faces a different challenge. While reducing hunger remains an important policy goal, preventing obesity and related chronic diseases has become the nutritional issue of our time.