Starting Thursday, a significant shift in the decades-old food stamp program takes effect, imposing new limits on what can be purchased with government benefits. Residents in five states who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will find they can no longer use their benefits to buy certain items like soda, candy, and in some cases, energy drinks.
A New Direction for SNAP Benefits
Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia are the first states to enact these new restrictions, which come via federal waivers. They are part of a broader push by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to remove foods considered unhealthy from the $100 billion federal program. The initiative, a key part of Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" effort, aims to combat chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes linked to sugary drinks and snacks.
"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," Kennedy stated last December.
This move marks a stark departure from policy in place since 1964 and later affirmed by the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act, which allowed SNAP benefits to be used for almost any human-consumable food except alcohol, tobacco, and ready-to-eat hot foods.
Implementation Challenges and Industry Backlash
Despite the health-focused intent, the rollout is facing severe criticism and logistical hurdles. Retail and policy experts warn that state SNAP programs, already strained by budget cuts, are unprepared. There is no complete, clear list of affected foods, and point-of-sale systems face complex, state-by-state technical challenges.
The National Retail Federation predicts longer checkout lines and a surge in customer complaints. Kate Bauer, a nutrition science expert at the University of Michigan, called it "a disaster waiting to happen of people trying to buy food and being rejected."
The financial burden on retailers is also substantial. A report by the National Grocers Association estimates initial implementation costs at $1.6 billion, with ongoing annual costs of $759 million. Gina Plata-Nino, SNAP director for the Food Research & Action Center, argues, "Punishing SNAP recipients means we all get to pay more at the grocery store."
Varied Rules and Human Impact
The five state waivers, effective January 1, affect approximately 1.4 million people, but the rules vary:
- Utah and West Virginia: Ban soda and soft drinks.
- Nebraska: Prohibits soda and energy drinks.
- Indiana: Targets soft drinks and candy.
- Iowa: Has the most restrictive rules, affecting taxable items like soda and candy, plus certain prepared foods.
Critics say the lack of clarity is a major problem. Plata-Nino noted that the item lists are not specific enough, leaving recipients confused about what they can buy. For people like Marc Craig, 47, of Des Moines, the changes add another layer of difficulty and stigma. "They treat people that get food stamps like we’re not people," said Craig, who receives $298 monthly in SNAP benefits while living in his car.
Health policy experts like Anand Parekh of the University of Michigan School of Public Health argue the waivers ignore root causes. "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.
The new waivers are authorized to run for two years, with an option to extend for three more. Each state must assess the impact of the changes, amid ongoing debate about whether such restrictions actually improve diet and health outcomes.
