Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Federal Officials Reject Bloomberg's Food Stamp Soda Ban
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 20, 2011
Modified Aug 20, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 20, 2011
Modified Aug 20, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Mayor Bloomberg has been on an Ahab-like quest to ban people from buying sodas and sugary drinks with food stamps; but yesterday, his white whale slipped away once again when federal officials rejected the proposed ban. And Bloomberg was pissed: "We think our innovative pilot would have done more to protect people from the crippling effects of preventable illnesses like diabetes and obesity than anything else being proposed anywhere else in the country -- and at little or no cost to taxpayers," Bloomberg said.
Although it was unlikely that the ban would pass, Bloomberg was hoping the Agriculture Department would agree to test the proposal in a two-year project. The city has already run a graphic ad campaign linking soda consumption to obesity (see above). "We're disappointed that the federal government didn't agree, and sorry that families and children may suffer from [its] unwillingness to explore our proposal," Bloomberg said yesterday.
Joel Berg, the executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, commended the federal government for “deciding not to micromanage” the lives of the poor: “The whole attempt was misguided and unworkable. This proposal was based on the false assumption that poor people were somehow ignorant or culturally deficient.” Now, Bloomberg can move on to more important issues, like taxing bear gallbladders.
Tagged
ban
food stamp
mayor bloomberg
soda
sugary drinks
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 10:01 a.m. ET
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .