New SNAP rules confuse grocery stores and consumers
States are rolling out new restrictions on what can be bought with SNAP (food stamp) benefits, starting Jan. 1 in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia, with at least 13 more states expected to follow, according to The New York Times. The Agriculture Department is rapidly approving waivers that let states ban purchases of soda, energy drinks and in some cases candy or prepared desserts as part of a Make America Healthy Again push by the Trump administration, spearheaded by the health secretary, Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. The rules vary: in Iowa ice cream can be bought at a convenience store but not a fruit cup with a fork attached; next month Idaho will allow a Twix candy bar but not a flourless granola bar with chocolate chips; in April Virginia will permit sweetened iced tea and lemonade but not some brands of sparkling sweetened fruit juice, while Texas has a different approach.
Retailers face a logistical challenge customizing point-of-sale systems for each state and training employees to explain the changes. Small chains reported long hours updating product codes — one owner said his wife spent about three days walking aisles to change codes, and Cubby’s said it took about 500 hours to manually compare and update products.
The Agriculture Department gave retailers 90 days to comply and warned that two violations could lead to consequences including removal from the SNAP program. States define prohibited items differently, creating inconsistent lists.
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