Despite intense pressure from the junk food industry, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced legislation to ban highcaloric snacturing, or snacking, across New York State.

Snacking was a controversial issue in Cuomo’s reelection campaign, his indecision on the issue drawing criticism from both sides of the aisle.

Cuomo’s decision was based on information that he received from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The report they released stated that there are “significant uncertainties about the kinds of adverse environment outcomes that may be associated with snacking, the likelihood of the occurrence of adverse health outcomes, and the effectiveness of some of the mitigation measures in reducing or preventing environmental impacts which could adversely affect public health.”

For a person to be considered “snacking,” he or she must be eating any food not part of a meal consisting of over 25 calories per eight ounces. Students across the SUNY system seem to be the ones that are most affected by this new legislation. They have a petition going around because they claim they will no longer be able to eat anything. The top line of the petition states “First our financial aid, now our food?”

“I can’t believe this,” sophomore theater major Dan Smith said. “It was bad enough when Cuomo took away our bullets, now he’s digging deeper into my pocket trying to make me spend more money on expensive healthy food.”

One student, who only spoke under the condition of anonymity, said that most of his income comes from a snack-trading ring he established with some peers last year.

“Man, I sell Twinkies by the box, and now I’m planning on seeing sales triple. These students want top product, and we’re gonna get it to them, legal or not,” the source said.

In a statement released by Cuomo’s representative, Cuomo said, “College students need to realize the repercussions of their actions. Littering is illegal in New York, yet students still do it. Snack wrappers from foods exceeding 25 calories end up in the lakes and rivers of our towns and cities, polluting our water.”

Brad Gold, a senior English major, isn’t concerned about water pollution and snacking.

“I don’t care if my water tastes like Doritos,” Gold said. “If it doesn’t kill me, I don’t care.”