As constituents, I think we can all agree that we do not approve of these restrictive changes to SNAP benefits. I have seen so many people commenting across all social media platforms, so I know there are thousands of us struggling—so many American families who have no choice but to rely on SNAP benefits to survive. Taking away the freedom to purchase sweet items, candy, or carbonated beverages is wrong. We should have the liberty to choose what we buy with our benefits.

While I understand this new policy aims to promote public health, most families do not buy junk food constantly. With the limited benefits we receive, most parents can only afford basic ingredients for main meals. For families with children, purchasing a small treat is often only possible with whatever minor funds are left over. For these children, who may wait a whole month for a treat, getting something sweet or even remotely "junk food" related is tantamount to Christmas morning. Furthermore, studies show that families utilizing SNAP do not purchase any more sweets or sugary drinks than families who do not receive benefits.

Taking this choice away is deeply concerning because it forces families to choose between "diet" or "zero sugar" options. Diet items frequently rely on artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Our bodies don’t process aspartame the same way they process sugar because our bodies don’t know what that chemical is. Aspartame causes neuropsychiatric reactions in the human body like headaches, which can also trigger migraines in some, convulsions, and depression. It also disrupts normal brain function, which causes mood disorders. Aspartame increases cortisol steroid levels and changes the gut microbiota, which leads to long-term changes in behavior. It is also known to cause mental stress. The consumption of aspartame has even been linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There have been so many other things linked to aspartame that are extremely bad for us.

You can read more about it here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8227014/

The tremendous cost increase of groceries has made it incredibly difficult to eat healthy. Buying fresh, healthy foods quickly drains half of a family's monthly benefits. If the state forces constituents to buy strictly health-focused foods, then an increase in monthly benefit allocations is absolutely necessary to prevent families from going hungry. If you take away our right to choose what we eat, you must increase our benefits so we can actually afford those choices.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope I got your attention with this information, and I hope I get your signature to help reverse this!

Sincerely, fellow South Carolinian <3