Food Stamps / SNAP Ending Hoax: Government ‘Food Stamp Program To Be Discontinued Effective March 2015’ Totally Fake

An article titled "Government Food Stamp Program To Be Discontinued Effective March 2015" is nothing more than a hoax. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program won't be changed. In this July 9, 2009 file photo three combines harvest the winter wheat on the Cooksey farm near Roggen, Colo. Farm-state lawmakers are pushing for final passage of the massive, five-year farm bill as it heads to the House floor Wednesday — member by member, vote by vote. There are goodies scattered through the bill for members from all regions of the country: a boost in money for crop insurance popular in the Midwest; higher cotton and rice subsidies for Southern farmers; renewal of federal land payments for Western states. There are cuts to the food stamp program — $800 million a year, or around 1 percent — for Republicans who say the program is spending too much money, but they are low enough that some Democrats will support them. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)

An article titled “Government Food Stamp Program To Be Discontinued Effective March 2015” is nothing more than a hoax. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program won’t be changed.

The bogus report was published on Empire News, a so-called “satire” news website, a few days ago.

It had more than 50,000 shares on Facebook in a few days, with many apparently believing it.

“The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp program, will come to an end March 15, 2015, according to Department of Agriculture executive Thomas J. Vilsack,” the article reads. It adds: “The announcement has infuriated those who depend on assistance, such as Mary Parker of Washington, D.C., who was nearly brought to tears when asked her opinion. ‘It’s a damn shame our government can’t step up for us and pay for our food. I got five children that depend on it. I don’t know what I’m gonna do now. I guess I’ll actually have to get a job.'”

According to a disclaimer, Empire News shouldn’t be taken seriously.

“Empire News is a satirical and entertainment website. We only use invented names in all our stories, except in cases when public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental,” the disclaimer says.

But a number of people apparently believed the fake article.

“But yet we can send how much food over seas to different countries but yet so many Americans need the extra help their is people starving and homeless but that is good for us as Americans to watch our own people but yet send billions over seas,” wrote one person.