The Shapiro administration is proposing that Pennsylvania pass new funding to provide meals for Medicaid recipients with diabetes and other diseases. Providing nutritious meals that are tailored to a person’s specific medical needs can improve health care outcomes, research shows. But the meals aren’t typically covered by health insurance.

As more Americans live with obesity and diabetes, ultra processed food, like chips, candy, and cereal, have come under a lot of scrutiny lately. Two Pennsylvania food policy researchers argue that governments should regulate those products like tobacco. This comes as some other scientists, and policy makers, say some ultra processed foods can be as addictive and harmful as cigarettes.

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