Dear editor:

With family in Powell, Greybull and area, I read news articles urging states to strip some so-called junk-foods or snacks regarded as unhealthy from the $100 billion federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves 42 million Americans. To be clear, I support banning public food cards being used say for spearmint chewing-gum or sugary Jolly Rancher candies, etc.

However, I have a first-cousin who is a retired pharmacist. He commented to me one day that he likes Gatorade. I commented to him that, if memory serves, both Gatorade and Powerade have about 2% of the daily requirement of potassium, per serving. Yet, where I had the last laugh was in showing him the reverse label of my Lay's potato chips which has 13% allowance of potassium. Plus, those chips have 6% allowance of Vitamin C and a 7% (a good source) of fiber. I do concede it all depends on how foods are processed and fat must be taken into consideration, too.

My Hershey’s pure milk chocolate bar label says it has 6% calcium; 8% of iron; 4% potassium, with 4% dietary fiber.

I fully agree that the back label of a Coca-Cola has zero, zero, zero percent of anything redeeming; with only high rates of sodium and calories. Nobody wants heart disease nor diabetes. RFK has some good ideas, but I still don't want to follow his habit of eating road-kill for any type of dinner!

Where it's blatantly obvious, I think the ban of coverage by SNAP funds is warranted. But, if it is a close-call with a product having a fair amount of vitamins, minerals or fiber, I feel some negotiations and compromise can be made.

James  A.  Marples

Longview, Texas