Food stamp program may reduce food insecurity for children

By Shereen Jegtvig NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A program that provides nutrition assistance to millions of low-income families may be linked to improved well-being among children, according to a new study. Researchers found that children in households who participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for six months had substantial improvements in their consistent access to food – or “food security.” Food insecurity has been linked to a number of health and developmental problems among children, the authors write. “Stated simply, SNAP works,” James Mabli told Reuters Health. “SNAP is achieving its objective of reducing hunger, and it’s achieving that objective for one of the most vulnerable populations which are households with children,” he said.