Kate Bauer

A person walks a cart down a grocery aisle.

Restriction vs. incentives: The complex reality of SNAP food policies

U-M expert: SNAP food restrictions don't improve health outcomes, while incentive programs show promise

Several states are considering restricting SNAP benefit purchases for soda and certain products like chips and candy. Michigan Public Health professor and researcher Kate Bauer explains why such restrictions fail to improve health outcomes while increasing stigma, and offers evidence-based alternatives that preserve dignity for recipients.

Image credit: Michigan Photography. Participants and staff of the Feeding MI Families Community Food Advocacy Fellowship gather for a photo during the March 2024 kickoff meeting in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Michigan Public Health fellowship program equips parents to shape policies, improve food security

The Feeding MI Families Community Food Advocacy Fellowship trains Michigan parents to advocate for better food access and nutrition assistance.

The University of Michigan School of Public Health’s Feeding MI Families Community Food Advocacy Fellowship empowers Michigan parents to become advocates for food access and policy change. Developed with support from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the fellowship equips participants with the skills and confidence to address food insecurity through local advocacy and community action.