When SNAP benefits run out, ‘people can die,’ say health experts – statnews.com

Report on the Suspension of SNAP Benefits and its Conflict with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Direct Challenge to Global Development Objectives

A government shutdown is poised to suspend the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP), severing access to food benefits for millions of Americans. This development represents a significant setback for the United States in its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning poverty, hunger, health, and inequality.

• At least 25 states have confirmed they will not issue SNAP benefits for November.
• Nearly 42 million Americans, receiving an average of $187 per month, will be affected.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declined to release emergency funds to cover the shortfall.

Impact on SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The suspension of SNAP directly undermines SDG 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition. The program serves as the nation’s primary defense against food insecurity.

Escalation of Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

Without SNAP funds, a sharp increase in hunger and a decline in nutritional quality is anticipated.

• Families will be forced to skip meals or purchase cheaper, ultra-processed foods that are low in nutritional value.
• This leads to an immediate decline in dietary quality and nutritional stability, directly opposing the targets of SDG 2.
• Alternative resources like food banks are ill-equipped to manage the deficit, having already sustained a $500 million reduction in federal funding.

Implications for SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The termination of benefits poses a severe threat to SDG 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The consequences are both immediate and long-term, affecting physical and mental health.

Deterioration of Physical Health

The link between nutrition and health is critical, and the loss of SNAP will disproportionately harm the most vulnerable.

1. Individuals with diet-sensitive chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, will be unable to afford the nutritious food necessary to manage their health. Notably, 13% of Americans below the federal poverty level are affected by diabetes.
2. Recipients will be forced into impossible choices between food and other necessities, including medication. Research indicates that SNAP recipients are less likely to skip medications.
3. Studies show an increase in emergency room visits among older adults toward the end of the month as food benefits are depleted, indicating a direct correlation between food insecurity and acute health crises.

Erosion of Mental Well-being

Food insecurity is a significant psychological stressor, and the loss of SNAP benefits is expected to have severe mental health consequences.

• Research demonstrates that food insecurity is linked to poor mental health, while access to SNAP is associated with lower rates of psychological distress.
• The loss of benefits is projected to increase levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among both parents and children.
• The stress of providing for children under these conditions is also associated with poorer cardiovascular health outcomes for caregivers.

Wider Impacts on SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The repercussions of the SNAP suspension extend beyond hunger and health, affecting poverty, education, and social equity.

Undermining Social and Economic Stability

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): SNAP is a foundational social safety net. Its removal threatens to push millions of households into poverty and creates compounding crises, such as eviction and utility shut-offs.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The policy disproportionately impacts low-income Americans, people with chronic illnesses, and families with children, thereby widening existing inequalities.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Evidence shows that children’s academic test scores decline as SNAP benefits run out. Food insecurity disrupts cognition and behavior, creating long-term impacts on educational attainment.

Conclusion: Policy Contradictions and Institutional Failure

The decision to halt SNAP benefits highlights a severe disconnect between public health rhetoric, such as the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, and policy actions that dismantle essential support systems. This institutional failure not only ignores the immediate survival needs of vulnerable populations but also actively works against the nation’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. As one expert noted, SNAP is the safety net, and “Below the safety net is concrete.”

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article discusses the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP), a social safety net designed to assist low-income individuals and families. The potential loss of these benefits directly impacts the financial stability and basic needs of the most vulnerable, pushing them further into poverty.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire piece revolves around the impending loss of food benefits for millions, leading to “food insecurity” and forcing people to “go hungry.” It explicitly details the consequences of cutting off access to nutritious food.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article extensively links food insecurity to negative health outcomes. It discusses the impact on individuals with chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, the rise in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and the difficult choice between buying food and medication.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – A direct connection is made between food insecurity and educational outcomes. The article cites evidence that children’s academic test scores decline when their families run out of SNAP benefits, highlighting how hunger can impair cognition and school performance.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article highlights that the loss of SNAP benefits disproportionately affects vulnerable and lower-income populations. It notes that diabetes rates are higher among Americans living below the federal poverty level, showing how health and economic inequalities are exacerbated by the disruption of such programs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
   • The article focuses on SNAP, which is a key social protection system in the United States, providing benefits to “nearly 42 million Americans.” The government shutdown threatens the implementation and continuity of this system.
2. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • The article directly addresses this target by describing how millions are set to “lose access to food benefits,” leading to hunger and forcing them to choose between “groceries and other basic needs.” It also mentions that without SNAP, people may opt for “cheaper ultra-processed foods,” which are not nutritious.
3. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The article explains that people with “diet-sensitive chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease rely on SNAP to buy nutritious food.” It also states that losing benefits will “increase levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in both parents and kids.”
4. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines for all.
   • The article mentions that older Americans receiving SNAP are “less likely to skip medications.” The loss of these benefits would remove a form of financial risk protection, forcing individuals to choose between food and essential medicines.
5. Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
   • The article supports this by citing evidence that “children’s academic test scores decline toward the end of the month as families run out of SNAP benefits,” linking nutritional stability directly to learning outcomes.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Prevalence of food insecurity: The article’s central theme is the rise of “food insecurity” and people “going hungry” as a direct result of losing SNAP benefits. This is a primary indicator for SDG 2.
• Number of people covered by social protection programs: The article specifies that SNAP provides benefits to “nearly 42 million Americans.” This figure serves as an indicator for the reach of social protection systems under SDG 1.
• Rates of chronic disease among vulnerable populations: The article cites that diabetes affects “13% [of Americans] who live below the federal poverty level,” which can be used as an indicator to measure the health burden on low-income groups (SDG 3).
• Rates of skipping medication due to cost: The article implies this indicator by stating that SNAP recipients are “less likely to skip medications.” An increase in people skipping medication would be a negative indicator for Target 3.8.
• Mental health statistics: The article mentions that losing SNAP will increase “depression, anxiety, and stress.” Tracking rates of these conditions among affected populations would serve as an indicator for mental well-being under SDG 3.
• Academic performance metrics: The article explicitly mentions that “children’s academic test scores decline” due to food insecurity. Test scores are a direct indicator of educational outcomes related to SDG 4.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: statnews.com