CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — With so many in the Mountain State utilizing SNAP, increases in food prices and a new law preventing certain dyes in foods, grocery shopping could become a little more difficult.
Alecia Allen, from the Keep Your Faith Corporation, a program supporting public health and community wellness, spoke last Tuesday on why cutting SNAP funding could negatively impact West Virginians.
“Most of these people are working families or families who have dedicated their life to West Virginia’s workforce, who are now retired and raising grand families,” Allen said. “Those families need to be connected to healthy food.”
In 2023, almost 14% of West Virginia households were considered ‘food insecure’ meaning access to adequate food was scarce because of money and other resources. SNAP Deputy Director Gina Plata-Nino said that while the program doesn’t cover all groceries, it gives a nice boost.
“The minimum benefits $24 and average people get between $80 to $100,” Plata-Nino said. “It helps. It’s still not enough right which is why like people have been utilizing food banks at such a high level because food prices are just not the same.”
She said it’s getting worse with federal tariffs impacting canned goods, among other things.
“A lot of canned goods come in aluminum,” she said. “So, food prices are going away. So, it’s like they’re getting hit in every way.”
Plata-Nino also feels concerned about a new law in West Virginia that will ban certain dyes in foods.
“Now you’re going to have to travel two hours to get food because your local grocer who may not want to participate or may close as a result of less people accessing of how expensive this is going to get won’t be there,” she said.
According to the Rural Grocery Initiative, around 25% of West Virginians live in areas defined as food deserts, an area with limited access to plentiful, affordable or nutritious foods.
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