ARLINGTON, VA — July 19, 2010 — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) sent letters today to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell about the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307). FMI released the following statement from Jennifer Hatcher, senior vice president of government and public affairs on the behalf of supermarkets:

"Final passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307) is a top priority for the Food Marketing Institute and our nation’s supermarkets this Congress. It is critical to lay the groundwork for a smooth transition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) customers to use an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) for their transactions. It will increase efficiency and reduce participant stigma associated with the use of paper coupons. Supermarkets are proud to provide access to healthy food choices and want to provide an efficient and modernized checkout experience for WIC mothers who shop in our stores. We encourage the Senate to begin consideration of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act.