New ‘Snap’ March 31 bill eyes banning two grocery staples after 60 years – and other items may be on chopping block
TWO beloved grocery staples could face purchase bans under a new proposed bill in a key state aimed at encouraging SNAP spending on healthier food choices.
Although SNAP has operated with relatively consistent rules over the past six decades, an Idaho bill passed on March 31, proposing to restrict candy and soda purchases, may change that - and other popular items may soon also get the ax.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is a federal program that issues monthly payments to low-income individuals and families to help them afford nutritious food.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides benefits each month on an Electronic Benefit Transfer, EBT, card, which can be used to purchase food at authorized retailers.
Currently, over 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits on a monthly basis.
HEALTHY HABITS
SNAP benefits currently face limited spending restrictions and can be used to purchase "any food or food product intended for human consumption."
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The only federal rules in place are that the EBT money cannot be used to buy products such as alcohol, tobacco, and hot pre-prepared foods.
What are SNAP benefits?
Over 41 million people in America receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits each month.
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income households to help people get groceries.
Recipients get money on a debit card that can be used at grocery stores and farmers markets.
The amount of money distributed depends on several factors including how much money you make, how much money you receive from other benefits, and how many people are in your household.
The electronic benefits can help people buy food including food and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, breads, cereals, and snacks.
You can't use SNAP to buy alcohol, cigarettes, hot foods, or cooking utensils.
Source: USDA
However, as part of a movement to promote more nutritious eating habits, several states are considering limiting the types of foods that can be bought using SNAP money.
At least 10 states are considering limiting SNAP spending on unhealthy foods, including:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Missouri
- Montana
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- West Virginia
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Idaho is officially the first state to pass a bill in both chambers proposing to restrict food stamp purchases.
House Bill 109, proposing to ban SNAP spending on candy and soda, was approved in the Idaho House on March 31 with a 48-20 vote and in the Idaho Senate last week with a 25-10 vote.
In order to take effect, the bill must be signed by The Potato State's Governor Brad Little and approved by the US Department of Agriculture, which administers the food benefits.
If it were passed into law, House Bill 109 would take effect starting on July 1 and would involve requesting a waiver from the USDA to enact the SNAP restrictions in the state.
If the USDA fails to grant the state's waiver request, Idaho will request the waiver each year until granted.
A PUSH FOR CHANGE
There are currently no waivers in place in any state that limit SNAP participants from buying food products depending on their nutrition facts.
However, this may change under the current administration and newly appointed USDA Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins' push for restrictions on unhealthy spending.
Rollins, alongside Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr and Elon Musk's DOGE, aims to restrict SNAP spending on junk food and sugary drinks to promote healthier choices among recipients.
This aligns with US Representative Josh Brecheen's Healthy SNAP Act.
Introduced in January, it seeks to ban SNAP purchases of soda, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts.
Rollins' involvement with the "Make America Healthy Again" commission could place her in a key role in implementing the Healthy SNAP Act if it becomes law.
A NATIONWIDE CRISIS
Many proponents of restricting unhealthy purchases with food stamps argue that SNAP is currently fueling the junk food epidemic.
"SNAP has looked essentially the same for over 60 years, despite scientific consensus that sugary drinks are harming our health," two health policy experts shared via Newsweek.
"Public programs should not remain static and can evolve to address the changing needs of the population. Soda is poisoning our kids. The government doesn't need to subsidize it."
SNAP's monthly payments can be spent on a vast selection of food items, such as meat, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables.
However, soda ranks as the top item purchased with food stamps, with an estimated nearly $9 billion of SNAP benefits to be spent on the sugary beverages this year, per the Foundation for Government Accountability.
These drinks and candy alone make up a shocking 11% of all SNAP spending.
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SNAP spending by category
Here is the estimated SNAP spending by category for the fiscal year 2025.
Unhealthy Foods: $20.8 billion
- Sweetened beverages - $8.9 billion
- Prepared desserts - $6.6 billion
- Salty snacks - $3.3 billion
- Candy - $2 billion
Healthy Foods: $11.4 billion
- Vegetables - $6.9 billion
- Fruits - $4.5 billion
Source: Foundation for Government Accountability
In addition to those in Idaho, SNAP claimants in Texas risk being unable to buy beloved snacks as a bill inches closer to becoming state law.
Plus, a plan is underway to cut SNAP benefits by billions of dollars.