New SNAP Restrictions in Texas May Ban Candy and Soda

Lawmakers want to make Texas healthy again! Amid Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's investigation into Kellogg's use of artificial dyes, other Texas lawmakers are looking into legislation that would restrict the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits for purchasing certain "junk food" items.

In Senate Bill 379, led by State Senator Mayes Middleton, Texas aims to prohibit SNAP recipients from buying items such as chips, sodas, candy, and cookies. The initiative seeks to ensure that taxpayer funds are used to support healthier eating habits, addressing concerns about obesity and related health issues among low-income populations. Currently, SNAP prohibits the purchase of items like alcohol, tobacco, and hot prepared foods, but there are no federal restrictions on buying sugary snacks or beverages.

Middleton said of the bill:

Taxpayer-funded junk food turns into taxpayer-funded healthcare. We are experiencing skyrocketing healthcare costs and a decline in life expectancy in the United States and in Texas as well.

Although some expressed support for the bill, many had questions about how it would be implemented and others expressed concern over "food deserts", a term that is used to describe an area that has limited access to food that is plentiful, affordable, or nutritious. Middleton also clarified that the "state wouldn’t be determining which specific products would be restricted, that would be up to the federal government, through a waiver process."

The bill has passed the Texas Senate with a 22-8 vote and is now under consideration in the Texas House. If approved, the state would need to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, to implement the changes.