Abstract

Ross and MacKay argue that excluding sugar-sweetened beverages from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is ‘in principle morally permissible’ because it does not violate the central obligation that SNAP is meant to discharge—the obligation to ensure that citizens have secure access to food adequate to meet their nutritional needs. I query this argument, and suggest two other ways of understanding the core purpose of SNAP. According to the first, the core purpose of SNAP includes promoting good nutritional outcomes; thus, one might argue, including sugary drinks in SNAP undermines its core purpose. According to a second conception of SNAP, its core purpose ought to be much broader: promoting good nutritional outcomes, ensuring food security and providing secure access to other food-related goods, such as pleasure, social experiences and cultural expression.