SNAP Benefits to Ban Some Groceries and Other Changes Proposed in the Congress

By: Eliot Pierce

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The regulations governing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants may be altered by a new bill in Congress that would forbid them from buying certain types of goods that are common among recipients.

In the United States, households with low or no income can purchase food at participating restaurants with the assistance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP or food stamps.

Over 40 million people, or roughly 12.6% of the US population, were receiving food stamps through the SNAP program as of mid-2023, the most latest data available.

Changes could limit products that can be purchased with SNAP benefits

The Healthy SNAP Act, presented by Republican Representative Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, aims to exclude prepared desserts, soft drinks, candy, and ice cream from the list of items that participants are permitted to purchase with their benefits.

“More than 20% of federal SNAP program spending goes toward junk food and sugary drinks, with sugary drinks accounting for 10%,” Brecheen said in a statement released on January 16. Furthermore, he said that 33% of children and 75% of adults in the US are overweight or obese.

The Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards that SNAP beneficiaries currently use to get their benefits can be used to buy a variety of goods, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, breads, cereals, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Alcoholic beverages, hot cooked foods, and non-food items like cleaning supplies are not allowed, nevertheless. This is where the bill introduced by a Republican lawmaker that aims to outlaw the purchase of junk food enters the picture.

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What is junk food?

Junk food is defined as foods that are lacking in vital nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber but heavy in calories, sugar, sodium, and bad fats. Usually processed, these foods contain artificial components.

Fast food, sugary drinks, candies, chips, and processed snacks like highly produced chocolate bars are all considered junk food. Despite being sweet and easy, frequent consumption of it can result in a number of health problems, including as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Andy Biggs (Arizona), Michael Cloud (Texas), Paul Gosar (Arizona), Glenn Grothman (Wisconsin), Dan Meuser (Pennsylvania), Mary Miller (Illinois), and David Schweikert (Arizona) are among the Republicans in the House of Representatives who are in favor of the plan.

Maximum SNAP benefits for 2025

A 2.5% increase in the cost of living adjustment (COLA) has been applied to the maximum SNAP benefits that a family can receive each month in 2025.

For instance, the average American family (two adults and two children) earns a maximum of $976, whereas the maximum payout for a one-person home is $292. The highest amount that can be paid for a family of eight is $1,756.

Only the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC, are covered by these figures. Because living expenses are higher in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, their maximum amounts vary. The values for those regions are listed here.

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