MILLIONS of Americans could see shopping restrictions on popular snacks and drinks under a new junk food boycott proposal.
Ten states are currently considering changing the rules of the SNAP program to limit what recipients can purchase using their welfare benefits.
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SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a program run by the federal government that provides food financial assistance to low- and no-income households.
The over 40 million participants receive payments monthly through Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards that can be used to buy food at authorized retailers.
The program, formerly known as food stamps, was established in 1964 with the intention of assisting recipients in maintaining adequate nutrition and health.
SNAP benefits across all states can currently be used on “any food or food product intended for human consumption,” with the exception of alcohol, tobacco, and hot foods.
Opponents argue that permitting recipients to spend their benefits on sugary snacks, drinks, and junk foods encourages unhealthy selections and can result in obesity and other health issues.
Food Stamps
Food stamps are a voucher issued by the US government to low-income communities that can be exchanged for food and products.
The SNAP program is available in all 50 states, with benefit amounts varying depending on an individual or family’s income, size, and other expenses.
FOOD CRACKDOWN
Controversy surrounding the program’s limited restrictions has pushed ten US states to eye restricting SNAP beneficiaries from spending their payments on junk food.
The states considering banning SNAP spending on unhealthy foods include:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Missouri
- Montana
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- West Virginia
Lawmakers in these Republican-led states are considering bills that involve requesting a waiver from the USDA, which administers the food stamps program at the federal level.
A handful of states already have SNAP waivers implemented, used during the pandemic to increase access to benefits.
For example, some of the waivers made the application process more efficient, permitted online grocery orders, and got rid of restrictions on how long a beneficiary could receive SNAP benefits.
States Eyeing SNAP Restrictions
- Arizona – A bill is under consideration to prohibit the purchase of soda products containing natural or artificial sweeteners. It was approved by the House of Representatives in February.
- Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced in a letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. her plans to seek a SNAP Waiver from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. The waiver would encourage the purchase of fresh produce, eggs, and protein while restricting the use of SNAP benefits for junk food.
- Idaho – A proposed bill seeks federal permission to remove candy and soda from the list of items eligible for purchase using SNAP benefits. It passed the House in early March.
- Iowa – A bill has been proposed to limit SNAP benefits to the purchase of “real” eggs, meat, dairy, bread, grains, all fruits and vegetables, cereals, nuts, pasta, rice, and legumes. It advanced through an Iowa House subcommittee in late February.
- Missouri – A bill has been introduced in the House aiming to prohibit the purchase of “candy and soft drinks” with SNAP benefits.
- Montana – A proposed bill to ban candy and soda purchases is awaiting a final Senate reading before moving to the state House for consideration.
- Tennessee – A bill targeting the restriction of candy and soft drink purchases has passed the state House and is currently under review in the Senate.
- Texas – A bill introduced in January seeks to ban the purchase of carbonated beverages containing more than one gram of added sugar.
- Utah – A bill focusing on banning candy and soda has already passed Senate readings and is now being reviewed in the House.
- West Virginia – A bill introduced in February aims to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks.
None of the proposed bills have successfully passed through both legislative chambers.
Each bill requires the state governor’s approval before any waiver requests can be submitted to the USDA for consideration.
Source: Newsweek
However, there is no waiver currently in effect in any state that restricts SNAP participants from purchasing foods depending on their nutritional levels.
The bills under consideration align with newly appointed USDA Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ push for similar restrictions.
The new USDA aims to encourage SNAP recipients to make healthier food choices through purchase regulations.
“When a taxpayer is putting money into SNAP, are they OK with us using their tax dollars to feed really bad food and sugary drinks to children who perhaps need something more nutritious?” said Rollins.
“These are all massive questions we’re going to be asking and working on in the coming months and years.”
She plans to work alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr as well as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to implement the restrictions.
Despite Rollins’ intentions, restricting SNAP purchases of items like sugary drinks and junk food requires changes to federal law or state waivers, which have faced historical USDA resistance.
Food industry lobbyists have also oppose these restrictions, further complicating these efforts.
As the new USDA secretary aims to restrict junk food purchases, a plan is underway to cut SNAP benefits by billions of dollars.
Plus, read about the three sweeping changes to SNAP this year and how your state’s payments will be impacted.
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