Millions of Americans are set to lose access to food benefits starting Saturday due to the government shutdown, with at least 25 states notifying recipients that they will not receive checks for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in November. Health care experts caution that families will face increased food insecurity, forcing them to make untenable choices between essential needs such as groceries, rent, and medication, which could lead to severe health repercussions.
“People can die” from even brief interruptions in nutrition, warns Lindsay Allen, a health economist at Northwestern University. She emphasizes that individuals with diet-sensitive chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, rely on SNAP to purchase nutritious food vital for managing their health. Notably, diabetes prevalence is significantly higher among low-income Americans, affecting 13% of those living below the federal poverty line, underscoring the critical role of SNAP in supporting vulnerable populations.
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