English 4: Public Health Essay on Soda Subsidies and Health Issues

This essay analyzes an article from the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board, which questions whether subsidizing soda through food stamps contributes to a public health crisis in the United States. The essay examines the author's persuasive argument, focusing on the detrimental health effects of soda consumption, particularly among the economically disadvantaged. It discusses the author's concerns about the rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes linked to sugary drinks, and the potential consequences of limiting access to soda for low-income individuals. The essay explores the government's role in subsidizing unhealthy choices and the potential impact of policy changes on public health, considering factors like consumer behavior and the availability of alternative sugary items. The author argues that the current subsidy system may be exacerbating health issues and calls for a critical evaluation of its effectiveness. The essay ultimately raises questions about the complex relationship between government policies, consumer behavior, and public health outcomes.

Running head: ENGLISH
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Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author Note

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The author in the news article aims to highlight one of the upcoming public health issues that
have been prevailing among the citizens of the United States. The editorial raises a query over
the health issues carried out by the subsidization of soda in the retail market, thus enhancing the
poor citizens to indulge themselves in buying them.
The author of this editorial is persuasive and so his claims regarding how the subsidy over the
food stamped soda are enhancing a significant public health challenge within the people in the
country, specifically the economically backward class of people.
The below section will illustrate the author's point of view for analyzing his claim towards the
public health concern raising from the subsidized soda cans, which are popular among the
current generation.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on 29 March 2017, the article titled, “ Are we subsidizing a
public health crisis by allowing the poor to buy a soda with food stamps?”, was edited by the
Times Editorial Board. The fundamental issue that has been highlighted in the question includes
the concern towards the rising public health challenge that is induced by the subsidy imposed
over soda bottles. The thesis section of this essay will argue about the subsidy that has been
imposed over the soda and the health impacts it has been causing to the population in the
country. The key points that will be covered in the essay include the buying habit of customers,
the detrimental health effects of consumption of soda and the opinion of the author regarding the
challenge.
According to the reports and the data gathered in the study, people who use food stamps make
the same unhealthy choices of their food that mostly includes salty snacks, sweets and junk or

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processed foods. As per the data gathered from the USDA, people tend to use a significant share
of their grocery budget towards buying sweetened soda bottles which have food stamps on it.
The author of this editorial argued over the fact presented by House Agriculture committee
regarding the lack of counter productiveness for spending dollars over soda in the aim of
improving the nutrition of the low-income Americans. The study furthermore shared the view of
public health experts over the consumption of soda which included the results like type 2
diabetes and obesity ("Editorial: Are We Subsidizing A Public Health Crisis By Allowing The
Poor To Buy Soda With Food Stamps?". Los Angeles Times, 2017).
There have been some of the significant changes in Philadelphia, San Francisco after USDA
issues dietary guidelines and warned people to limit their consumption of beverages, soda that
has added sugars since this causes obesity and sickness. The government of a couple of states in
the United States have benefited by pushing through the new tax policies over the labelled soda
cans. The state-wise soda tax has been a successful strategy, as highlighted by the author in his
news article that made people aware of the health effects of the consumption of sugary cheap
soda drinks.
Though there have been detrimental effects of health over drinking of soda, barring of the
recipients overspending of benefits on soda will eventually improve the health status or not is a
big question. This is because one might shift their preferences to other sugary items such as
pudding, ice cream or some sugar-laden fruit juice. Hence before the implementation of any of
the permanent change, it is vital to analyze if it would improve the nutrition or the public health.
Majority of the people residing in the country who belongs from the economically backward
section of the society tends to gather food items having food stamps as a safeguard or recognition

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of a brand ("Editorial: Are We Subsidizing A Public Health Crisis By Allowing The Poor To
Buy Soda With Food Stamps?". Los Angeles Times, 2017). The news article questioned over the
fact if the government of the country is participating in subsidizing a public health concern or
crisis by the allowance of the economically backward class of people to consume soda with food
stamps.
The news article highlights from the perspective of a public health care individual that there have
been numerous harmful effects of the consumption of soda over teeth and waistline of an
individual. Consumption of soda has, however, more severe risk towards health that one can
actually realize. Canned soda causes a decline over the function of the kidney; it increases the
tendency of the threat towards diabetes; it leads to significant dehydration linking with falling
BPA and increased risk to cancer. The granular content within the drink is very much high in
calories which results in an increased risk of obesity among the children and heart disease
affecting the metabolism of a normal human being.
From the news-editorial, it can thus be summarized that health is a status of the symbol in the
United States ("Editorial: Are We Subsidizing A Public Health Crisis By Allowing The Poor To
Buy Soda With Food Stamps?". Los Angeles Times, 2017). Thus the grocery owners and the
manufacturers tend to make healthier food marked at an upper price. It is to be understood that it
is cheaper to live over the canned soda and the junk food for the economically deprived class of
the society. Soda is less expensive than healthy fruit juice is attracted by most of the consumers.
Bottled water, on the other hand, is exorbitantly precious in the country. Thus the subsidy over
the soda cans in the grocery stores of U.S is inducing the poor people to buy and consume it on a
more substantial basis. It is essential to understand the concern that might raise when the
government denies subsidy over these sweetened beverages. The denial to poor people to avail

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the food aid to buy a bottle of soda might also raise some of the uncomfortable and unsetting
scenarios within the diverse country. This might also lead to the poor protesting for their right to
choice over food habits. However, as per the news article, the excessive consumption of soda
needs to be controlled.

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References
"Editorial: Are We Subsidizing A Public Health Crisis By Allowing The Poor To Buy Soda With
Food Stamps?". Los Angeles Times, 2017, https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-
soda-ban-food-stamps-20170329-story.html.