An online influencer has sparked a firestorm debate after calling for the government to feed “prison loaf” to poor people instead of giving them SNAP benefits to buy food.
Diane Yap is going viral for suggesting that free nutraloaf — an unappetizing but nutritionally balanced mix of protein, carbs, fruits and vegetables mashed together — is the best solution to keep poor Americans from going hungry.
“The point of EBT is to ensure people don’t starve to death. That’s it. Even if we agree that’s a worthwhile goal, it can be achieved with Nutraloaf,” wrote Diane Yap, founder of the Friends of Lowell Foundation, a nonprofit formed to defend academic merit-based admissions at a top-ranked San Francisco high school.
“Nutraloaf provides the correct incentives: you won’t starve and you’ll be motivated to earn enough money to eat real food again,” she added in her viral X post.
The food, also known as “prison loaf” or “meal loaf” is often served in US prisons to inmates as punishment.
It is described as being bland in taste, but with the advantage that it contains all of the essential nutrients, while also not requiring utensils, which are often taken from unruly prisoners.
Yap suggested that many of the 42 million Americans on food stamp benefits — whose payments ran out on Saturday due to the government shutdown — are abusing the system by buying junk food or luxuries.
The average household receives $332 per month; families with kids average $574 per month in SNAP benefits.
Her viral post inspired howls of outrage from lefties online — who called her heartless.
“‘We should treat the poor like we treat misbehaving prisoners,’ is def a take I expect from u,” one X user wrote.
“They can opt out at any time by simply paying for their own food,” Yap responded.
“You’re a horrible person,” wrote a second person.
“Being poor is not a sin that must be ‘atoned’ for by suffering, you soulless ghoul,” added a third.
But others suggested Yap might be onto something.
“At any other time in history, and in much of the world today, Diane’s proposal of free nutritionally complete food would be considered extremely generous. But it’s not hot Cheeto-flavored so apparently it’s immensely cruel,” wrote one user.
Another said, “This is extreme but yes EBT should be strictly limited to rice, chicken, beans, veggie, lower carb pasta, pork to ensure people get the best value for the taxpayer buck.”
Several lawsuits have taken place regarding the use of nutraloaf as a form of punishment in prisons.
In 2008, Vermont prisoners brought a case before the state’s Supreme Court, arguing that because Vermont doesn’t allow food to be used as a punishment, nutraloaf couldn’t be served.
Four states — California, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New York — have banned giving nutraloaf to inmates.
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