ASK (via email or phone):
Dear Senator X: Please support legislation in the Senate Farm Bill that would improve nutrition at no new cost by giving SNAP recipients the option to purchase a multivitamin-mineral along with other food items.
For businesses: [Include information about last interaction, engagement or visit] [location] Our facility is located in [city], and we employ [XXXX number of employees] in [state]. Explain what you make: dietary supplement, functional food, ingredient supply, etc, and why this is so important to your company. [See CRN's Economic Impact data for more information.]
SUMMARY:
The legislation would simply allow those on SNAP to choose a multivitamin-mineral product containing at least half of the essential vitamins and minerals at 50% of the recommended daily allowance. Products may not exceed upper tolerable intake levels for any nutritional supplement and no other type of dietary supplement is made eligible.
Including a multivitamin-mineral in SNAP adds no additional costs. It simply empowers low-income consumers with an additional healthy choice for better nutrition.
The average price of a multivitamin ranges from $.03 to about a dime a day.
Evidence shows taking a multivitamin-mineral is associated with healthier eating and other healthier habits. 89% of Americans taking dietary supplements report trying to eat a balanced diet (versus to 79% of those who do not take supplements), 70% maintain a healthy weight (versus 64%) and 69 % exercise regularly (versus 59%).
Multivitamin-minerals are regulated by the FDA and the FTC. Virtually all facets of dietary supplement manufacturing, labeling, and marketing are covered by extensive regulations issued and enforced by the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of SNAP is to "promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's population by raising the levels of nutrition among low-income households"
Yet, CDC data finds that 97 percent of adults utilizing SNAP benefits are failing to get recommended levels vitamin E and D and other key nutrients (Magnesium: 69%; vitamin A: 65%; Calcium: 47%; vitamin C: 48%).
According to the government's 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans calcium and vitamin D are considered "nutrients of public health concern" because low intakes are associated with particular health concerns.
Multivitamin-minerals are a safe, convenient, and scientifically supported way, in combination with a balanced diet, to fill essential nutrient gaps.
The House of Representatives included by voice vote an amendment to their Farm Bill making this common sense change. The amendment was based on bipartisan (Reps. Rogers, Sinema, Love and Cardenas) legislation in the House.