News reaching CEOAFRICA.com is that US food aid programme expires as benefits were cuts on Friday as legislators debates more cuts.

According to source, the benefits to the supplemental nutrition assistance program (Snap) will be lowered by $36 (£22) a month for a family of four.

 Reports say that about one in seven Americans rely on Snap, also known as food stamps, and some 47 million low income Americans will be affected by the cuts.

Republicans in Congress are seeking further reductions to the programme and say it should be better targeted at the most needy.

 The benefits which was originally expanded during the recent economic recession to stimulate the economy and help the poorest Americans has grown to $80bn a year due to higher unemployment and rising food costs.