The list of products eligible for food stamps has changed: what you need to know

Several Republican-controlled states are banning the purchase of soda and candy with food stamps as part of initiatives to promote healthy eating. However, some retailers and SNAP recipients find the new rules unclear, writes The Washington Post.

Surgeon General Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his allies argue that federal funds should not be used to purchase foods increasingly linked to poor health and obesity. Trump administration officials are pushing to ban the use of food stamps for soda and candy.

However, changes to the country's largest food assistance program have led to a complex and sometimes illogical system of new restrictions. This is being reported by trade associations of independent grocery and convenience stores, as well as business owners, hunger activists, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants, and others.

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Nearly two dozen states, most of them Republican-leaning, have received federal approval to amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. As of April 20, 10 states have already implemented their own versions of the new restrictions.

Some SNAP recipients supported the changes. Others joined a recent class-action lawsuit seeking to halt the changes in five states. They argue that the rules are illegal and complicate the program, which vulnerable populations rely on.

In Iowa, hunger advocates recently sought to draw attention to the fact that new regulations ban certain cold sandwiches and protein bars (granola). In Idaho, legislators sought to clarify the ban on sweets, as it allows the sale of KitKats and Twix due to their flour content. In some states, food stamp recipients were surprised to learn that sports drinks and certain flavored sodas are also banned.

Hannah Hansen, a single mother of four daughters, looked at her receipt from a recent purchase at a Fareway store in West Des Moines, Iowa, and began listing the items. Her coupons didn't cover the wild cherry soda and semisweet chocolate chip cookies, but they did cover some ultra-processed foods.

"What surprises me most is that chips and cookies are still covered," said Hansen, who works as a special education aide at a high school and receives $597 a month in food stamps. She said she's been buying less soda and candy since the restrictions were put in place, but she doesn't understand the logic behind some of the decisions.

Some retailers take different approaches to determining which items are no longer eligible for SNAP, so eligible purchases may vary not only from state to state but also from store to store.

"Some stores are intentionally imposing stricter restrictions to avoid losing their SNAP eligibility," said Stephanie Johnson, vice president of government affairs for the National Grocers Association, which represents independent retailers.

The confusion over the rules demonstrates that there are still no clear definitions of healthy and unhealthy foods. Meanwhile, Kennedy, ahead of the midterm elections, is actively promoting healthy eating rather than vaccination reform.

"Secretary Kennedy has made clear that we will support states' SNAP efforts to prioritize healthier foods," said Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon. "The goal is to give families better access to nutritious food and support a healthier future."

Trump administration officials met with food industry groups. The administration offered to collaborate with the industry on developing federal standards, but, according to a source, the industry is rejecting this.

At a February rally in Austin, Kennedy asked the audience why the government pays for soda and candy for poor children: "If someone wants to buy a Coca-Cola in this country, they should be able to. But the taxpayer shouldn't be paying for it for children. We give them diabetes, and then we pay for it ourselves. The whole system is insane."

A serious test

The Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP at the federal level, has never approved such sweeping restrictions before.

In 2011, federal authorities rejected New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempt to ban the purchase of sugary drinks with food stamps, partly due to the complexity and scale of the proposal. During Donald Trump's first term, the Department of Agriculture rejected Maine's efforts to ban sweets and sugary drinks.

The hunger-fighting community generally opposes these measures, arguing that they punish the poor, while nutritionists are divided. Some want to see data on whether the new rules are influencing consumer behavior.

"One could argue that no one who wants to be healthy should drink drinks with added sugar... and taxpayers shouldn't be paying for such drinks for anyone," said Marion Nestle, a former professor of nutrition and public health at New York University. "But one could also argue the opposite: that it's demeaning and stigmatizing for low-income people."

States are allowed to run pilot programs for two years.

"This is still an experiment," a senior Agriculture Department official said on condition of anonymity. "This has been talked about for years, and now we have states—both Democratic and Republican—that have proposed such plans. We're watching their implementation in real time."

When submitting their requests for the changes, states told the department they would provide quarterly reports, along with the number of complaints and positive reviews, the amount of SNAP funds spent out-of-state, and, where available, retailer purchase data.

For most participants, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program does not cover all monthly grocery costs.

Several SNAP participants expressed frustration, particularly with having to pay out of pocket for Gatorade and other electrolyte drinks they give to children when they are sick or dehydrated.

Torrie Langdon, a member of a network created by the nonprofit Hunger Free Oklahoma, said, "I've been denied certain items and had to return them. It's incredibly frustrating when you don't have the money to pay for them."

Others supported the new rules and said they were not concerned about the changes.

April Hardy of Polk City, Iowa, admitted she stopped drinking soda even before the restrictions went into effect on January 1. She works at a child care center and noted that many of the products she buys for her children with her $324 monthly allowance are still eligible for the program.

Of the 22 states that received approval, all imposed restrictions on certain beverages, and 14 restricted sweets.

In Utah, legislators initially wanted to ban both soda and sweets. However, lawmakers couldn't agree on which sweets should be banned. Ultimately, the law focused on soft drinks, defined as flavored carbonated drinks with added sugar or artificial sweetener. The possibility of expanding the program to include ultra-processed foods is currently being considered.

"I understand that people want their candy and soda," said State Representative Kristen Chevrier. "But that doesn't improve health, and the goal of the program is to improve health."

High rates

In Oklahoma, Katie Plohocki reviewed the state's list of thousands of items no longer eligible for SNAP.

She focused on individual items when deciding how to update the checkout systems of her "healthy" convenience stores. In some cases, if a product was similar to the one listed but labeled differently, she deemed it unsuitable.

The stakes are high: the store could lose its right to accept food stamps. Plohocki, founder and director of the Tulsa-based nonprofit RG Foods, estimates that SNAP payments account for approximately 60% of all sales.

Oklahoma is one of several states that have circulated lists of product codes for the new restrictions. However, this remains a challenge for small retailers.

Other states did not provide specific lists. Indiana stated that doing so would be "inaccurate and impractical" because such codes frequently change. Third-party companies began creating databases of prohibited product codes and selling them to retailers for thousands of dollars. West Virginia stated that purchasing such a database would be too expensive: it would cost $130,000.

For large retailers, implementing changes is easier. Fareway stated that it is confident in its compliance with the rules and was able to navigate the changes in Iowa and Nebraska.

Iowa's rules are considered some of the strictest. Food and beverages subject to sales tax can no longer be purchased with SNAP funds, making things easier for retailers but creating a complex system for recipients.

Attorney Stuart Freed, who represents retailers on SNAP issues, criticized the Department of Agriculture for not having consistent definitions for candy and soda: "This has caused massive confusion across the country."

A department spokesperson said uniform standards were not established in part because states administer programs independently, and differences will help evaluate the effectiveness of the measures.

SNAP administration agencies in Idaho, West Virginia, Indiana, Texas, Iowa, and Utah said they had engaged with retailers. Some states provided informational materials, held consultations, and invited businesses to share concerns.

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For now, the Department of Agriculture is working with retailers and is not imposing penalties for minor errors, given "significant technical difficulties." After 90 days, the enforcement phase, including warnings, has begun in at least five states.

Mark Craig, a SNAP recipient from Iowa who recently became homeless and works as an Uber Eats courier, documents his experience. He is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the changes.

"They say you have to prove it improves your health. How is banning me from buying a healthy sandwich and allowing me to eat cookies and cake going to make me healthier?" he asked, perplexed.

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