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"  An interesting controversy is heating up: Should food stamps be accepted in fast-food restaurants? Previously, food stamps were a way those enrolled in the USDA&amp;#039;s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could purchase groceries at their local supermarket. More recently, the agency has approved vendors ranging from farmers&amp;#039; markets to pharmacies the right to accept food stamps. But now, for the first time, several states are allowing food stamps to be accepted at fast-food chains. More From Delish: Quick and Healthy Meals on a Budget Big bucks are at stake since the number of Americans on food stamps is growing at a rapid pace. That means the number of benefits redeemed is also on the rise. According to a recent article in USA Today, from 2005 to 2010, &amp;quot;USDA records show food stamp benefits swelled from $28.5 billion to $64.7 billion.&amp;quot; And in 2010, Congress appropriated $82.7 billion for FNS programs for the Fiscal Year. Those against the fast food giants believe allowing redemption in quick-service restaurants contradicts the USDA&amp;#039;s recent efforts to promote healthy eating and will only help to keep Americans on a fast track to obesity. But YUM! Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silver&amp;#039;s and Pizza Hut, among others, argues that the elderly and homeless population have a much harder time actually preparing meals. More From Delish: Dinner Solutions for the Shoestring Budget While the USDA website&amp;#039;s guidelines say that those in the program may only purchase foods for the household \u2014 such as breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and poultry, and dairy products \u2014 the site also states that, &amp;quot;In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.&amp;quot; Strangely, the USDA also specifies that it disallows purchase of &amp;quot;food that will be eaten in the store or hot foods.&amp;quot; Wouldn&amp;#039;t that eliminate the fast-food joints? Hmmm. Seems, they too are conflicted. Allowing fast-food restaurants to accept food stamps will help those who have cooking limitations, but given the government&amp;#039;s recent efforts to prevent obesity, is it a smart decision to allow it? What do you think? "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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