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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 3, 2005 Nichole Whipple of Ashland was surprised to learn she couldn�t buy her favorite protein bar with food stamps, but she could buy all the M&M�s she wants. Her case highlights inconsistencies in a 29-page federal list of what�s allowed and what isn�t. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Food stamp follies Ashland woman questions nutritional value of foods approved for food stamps By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Nichole Whipple could spend her household’s entire $149 monthly food stamp allotment on candy bars and no one would say a thing. But when the 31-year-old Ashland woman tried to buy the Balance energy bars recommended by her doctor last month, the grocery clerk made her pay. "They said you owe $5 in cash," recalled Whipple, a college student and theater cashier who calculates her food budget down to the penny. "It was for these protein bars." Turns out, the store clerk was right. Balance Bars are one of dozens of products dubbed ineligible on a 29-page list of items reviewed for federal food stamp use. Advertisement The bars are regarded as nutritional supplements, like vitamins, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials contended. But that explanation didn’t satisfy Whipple or her partner, Nikki Pons, 38. For one thing, other energy bars with ingredients almost identical to Balance Bars are allowed on the list, Whipple noted. For another, foods with clearly questionable nutritional value are accepted with no scrutiny at all. "All that might fly if I couldn’t buy a bag of M&M’s and a Coke," said Whipple, whose experience has exposed an ironic twist in federal food stamp rules. "Taxpayers should be extremely concerned about what is and isn’t allowed on food stamps because it’s their money that’s paying for them." A review of allowed items on the most recent edition of a federal food stamp list appears to support Whipple’s concerns. While the Balance Bars she prefers are banned, the Atkins Diet Advantage Bar — all flavors — are allowed. Red Bull energy drink is excluded, but Jose Cuervo margarita mix and Jim Beam pancake syrup are OK. Luna bars are out, but Lifesavers sail right through. Concerns about such inconsistency are rare, said local and state workers from the self-sufficiency department of the Oregon Department of Human Services. "This is the first time I’ve ever heard about it," said Carolyn Ross, state coordinator of the program that serves more than 430,000 low-income Oregonians with more than $38.5 million in benefits. "I have a meeting planned with an advocate group. I might bring it up." Complaints about eligible foods have to be considered in the larger context of food stamp rules, officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrition Assistance Program said. In general, the guidelines make a distinction between items that are primarily used as foods and those that are simply supplements, said Marcus Brownrigg, a spokesman for the USDA. "Potato chips, cupcakes, chewing gum, snack items are all allowed because they are a food item," Brownrigg explained. "If it’s a deficiency corrector and only occasionally used as a food product, it’s not allowed." Most foods clearly fall into one category or another, state officials and local store managers agreed. "Where it gets interesting is in vitamins and medicines," said Zack Burrows, front-end manager of the Ashland Community Food Store, where food stamp customers may have questions about acceptable items. "When we’re not sure, we err on the side of caution." Whether an item is eligible depends on its typical use, said Susan Acker, spokeswoman for the USDA. "If there’s a question, we review it," she said. "It’s based on how those items are marketed." Balance Bars are described on a company Web site as: "A delicious way to help meet your body’s need for energy. "Plus it has 23 essential vitamins and minerals and a low glycemic index," the copy notes. It’s not clear how that is different from the Atkins pitch, which calls its product "a nutritious and convenient way to control your carbs." Federal officials plan to hold nationwide Farm Bill Forums to seek comment about the food stamp program and other issues, Acker noted. That’s part of a pending plan to overhaul the way items are evaluated for food stamp use. Users should be patient with the system, said Burrows, the Ashland store manager. "We think it’s a really good program. It does a lot of good for a lot of people," he said. In Southern Oregon, nearly 40,000 people received food stamp benefits of about $3.4 million in May, state figures indicate. "You can find fault with the logic, but sometimes you can also understand the logic," Burrows said. "But for those little things on the fringe, you just go with it." That’s small comfort to Whipple, a political science student, and Pons, a sociology student, who believe there’s a larger issue at stake. "Regardless of whether or not you’re on food stamps, you should be concerned," Whipple said. Three years ago, Whipple weighed 385 pounds and suffered from multiple sclerosis. Gastrointestinal bypass surgery enabled her to lose 220 pounds and gain a sharp appreciation for good nutrition. "I have to make sure everything I eat counts," she said. Her doctor recommended protein bars, Whipple said. She and Pons believe food stamps should cover them — especially if they cover other, less healthful options. "If you want to eat just junk food, it’s fine," added Pons. "But what if you don’t?" Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail Food stamp follies ">[email protected] . In general, households can use the benefits to buy the following items: Breads and cereals Fruits and vegetables Meats, fish and poultry Dairy products Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat Households cannot use the benefits for these items: Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco Pet foods Soaps, paper products and household supplies Vitamins and medicines Food that will be eaten in the store Hot foods Within those categories, though, are more specific rules about types and brands of foods, which are communicated to retail stores through regular, updated lists. Here are a few examples: u Atkins Diet Advantage Bar (all flavors) u Carbwise Bar u Ginseng tea u Bows and arrows (rural Alaska only) u Jim Beam Pancake Syrup u Mixes for alcoholic drinks (without alcohol) u Flax seeds u Rose Hips powder u Balance Energy Bar u Clif Bar u Ginseng extract u Canning jars and lids u Livestock u Red Bull energy drink u Nasturtium seeds u Garlic pills — Source: Food Stamp Program Eligible Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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