SNAP means Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It was earlier called food stamps. SNAP helps about 42 million Americans buy food, according to The Sun. These changes are happening because Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins want to stop SNAP money from being used on foods they say are unhealthy.
Health goal behind the ban
The goal of the policy is to reduce long-term health problems like obesity and diabetes that are linked to sugary drinks and sweet foods. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, “We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create.” Experts say the changes may be hard to manage because many state SNAP programs are already dealing with big budget cuts.
Retailers and state officials do not yet have clear lists of which foods are banned under the new rules. The rules may be different in each state and even different in each store, which can confuse shoppers.Studies on whether banning some foods really improves health or diet are not clear and give mixed results.The National Retail Federation warned that shoppers may see longer checkout lines because cashiers and customers will need time to check which items are allowed and which are not.
Store problems and higher costs
The group also expects more complaints from SNAP users who only find out about banned items at the register. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen of people trying to buy food and being rejected,” said Kate Bauer from the University of Michigan, as stated by The Sun. A report by grocery and retail groups estimated the changes will cost retailers $1.6 billion at first and $759 million every year after that. Anti-hunger groups say these extra costs will likely lead to higher grocery prices for everyone.
“Punishing SNAP recipients means we all get to pay more at the grocery store,” said Gina Plata-Nino of the Food Research & Action Center. For decades, SNAP rules allowed people to buy almost any food meant for human consumption, except alcohol, tobacco, and hot ready-to-eat food. This policy was based on laws first passed in 1964 and later confirmed in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
How rules changed under Trump
In the past, lawmakers tried to block SNAP spending on foods like steak, chips, or ice cream, but those efforts failed, as stated by The Sun. Earlier waiver requests were rejected because USDA research found the changes would be costly and hard to enforce. The research also showed that food bans might not change buying habits or reduce obesity and other health issues. Under the second Trump administration, states were encouraged and even rewarded to apply for SNAP waivers. Indiana Governor Mike Braun said, “This isn’t the usual top-down, one-size-fits-all public health agenda.” About 1.4 million people across the five states will be affected when the rules start. In Utah and West Virginia, SNAP users will no longer be able to buy soda and soft drinks. In Nebraska, the ban covers soda and energy drinks. In Indiana, the ban targets soft drinks and candy. Iowa has the strictest rules, banning soda, candy, taxable foods, and some prepared foods. In Iowa, even some prepared foods that are not clearly listed in notices to families will be blocked.
Impact on real people
Gina Plata-Nino warned that the food lists are not clear enough for shoppers to understand before going to the store. She wrote, “The items list does not provide enough specific information to prepare a SNAP participant to go to the grocery store”, as mentioned by The Sun.
Marc Craig, 47, from Des Moines, said he has been living in his car since October and relies on SNAP to eat. He said the new rules make it harder to plan how to spend the $298 he gets each month in benefits. Craig also said the rules increase the shame SNAP users feel at checkout counters. “They treat people that get food stamps like we’re not people,” Craig said.
The SNAP waivers approved now and in the coming months will last for two years. States can extend the waivers for another three years if they choose. Each state must study and report how these food bans affect shoppers and health outcomes. Health experts say the policy ignores bigger problems like the high cost of healthy food. Anand Parekh from the University of Michigan said the plan misses the real issue. “This doesn’t solve the two fundamental problems, which is healthy food in this country is not affordable and unhealthy food is cheap and ubiquitous,” he said, as stated by The Sun.
FAQs
Q1. Which states are banning soda and candy under SNAP from January 1?
Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia will limit SNAP purchases of soda, candy, and some other foods.
Q2. Why are SNAP food bans being introduced?
The bans aim to reduce obesity and diabetes by stopping SNAP from paying for foods seen as unhealthy.