Government pays billions to grow ingredients in junk food

A new consumer report reveals most government subsidies for farmers are being funneled toward crops used to make junk food.

The California Public Interest Research Group published a report that claims 75 percent of farming subsidies go to farming companies that grow corn and soybeans.

Much of the corn and soybeans grown in our country get turned into food additives such as high-fructose corn syrup. That’s why CALPIRG is pushing to stop government payments to large corn and soybean growers.

Heather Goold with CALPIRG said, “Companies like Monsanto make nearly $12 billion on their own, so receiving the $18 billion since 1995 is basically a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers are trying to put an end to corn and soybean subsidies in a new farm bill.

The new bill likely won’t be up for a final vote in Congress until late this summer.