Government ID, Smart Cards, Identification and Authentication

New Zealand considers smart card to encourage healthy eating

Thursday, September 3, 2009

New Zealand’s Ministry of Health is considering issuing a smart card that would offer subsidies for those on welfare to buy healthy food, according to the New Zealand Herald.

The program would encourage consumption of healthy foods in low- and middle-income families with children to reduce New Zealand’s high rate of obesity.

Health economist have suggested the government set up a smart-card subsidy system that would be similar to the food stamps now given to low-income families in the United States on an electronic debit card. If families purchases healthy foods they would receive extra funds on the card.

Read more here. [end] 

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