Jane Black is a journalist who covers food politics, trends and sustainability issues. Her column, “Smarter Food”, appears monthly in the Washington Post and her work appears regularly in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and New York Magazine. This week on What Doesn’t Kill You, Katy Keiffer chats with Jane about her recent article entitled “SNAP Judgment” in Slate Magazine (co-published by the Food and Environmental Reporting Network) that analyzes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Why do certain politicians historically vote against SNAP benefits based on their relationships with corporate food lobbyists? How are these political relationships changing? Are there ways to regulate the types of food or beverages that can be purchased with SNAP benefits, and will anti-hunger groups support these types of legislation? How do SNAP recipients feel about the idea of regulations on their benefits? Hear Katy and Jane talk about the lack of nutrition education, and the roots of the obesity epidemic in this country. Thanks to our sponsor, Cain Vineyard & Winery. Today’s music has been provided by Dead Stars.

“Back when they first started fighting for food stamps, the food companies would help the anti-hunger organizations because at that time, people with low incomes were hungry as opposed to obese. It was a perfect partnership!” [3:25]

— Jane Black on What Doesn’t Kill You