Some in Congress want to limit what federal food benefits can buy; others say the poor need more options, not fewer

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Will Congress limit some Americans' food choices? Possibly. "Some lawmakers want to prevent people from buying soda or junk food with federal benefits, but opponents say Congress shouldn't be policing what Americans eat" in the next Farm Bill, which funds food and nutrition programs, reports Kristina Peterson of The Wall Street Journal.

"The proposed restrictions are among a range of changes that lawmakers are considering for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP—formerly known as food stamps—in an effort to steer the millions of low-income families who use the program toward healthier food choices," Peterson reports. "Supporters of the restrictions say that the government shouldn't be subsidizing the sales of products that can contribute to obesity, disease and higher health costs."

Some Republicans favor restrictions on items like ice cream, soda and candy. "A measure in a House GOP spending bill approved in committee along party lines last week would establish a pilot program allowing a handful of states to restrict some foods or beverages from the SNAP program," Peterson writes. But not everyone agrees that such restrictions are needed. "Many Democrats—and some Republicans—say imposing food restrictions in SNAP would be hard to implement and would put the government in the position of telling Americans what to eat. . . . Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said he thought it was more effective to reward good eating choices by offering financial incentives for buying fruits and vegetables, for example."

Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) agreed that rewarding healthy eating habits was a more proven strategy. Peterson explains, "A recent study of a Department of Agriculture program that provides incentives for SNAP households when buying fruits and vegetables found that its participants consumed about 2.78 cups of produce a day, more than the 2.53 daily cups consumed by the average U.S. adult."

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With over 42 million people receiving federal food aid as of March 2023, "the food industry is lobbying against measures that could suppress sales of their products," Peterson reports. "Anti-hunger advocacy groups and trade associations representing packaged foods, beverages and grocers, among others, urged lawmakers to maintain 'the ability of individuals to choose the groceries they feel are best for their families rather than items decided by the government,' in a letter sent to Agriculture Committee and congressional leaders this month."

Opening up SNAP benefits to more options might also improve nutrition. "Lawmakers said a less controversial approach may be expanding SNAP benefits to some hot and prepared foods," Peterson writes. "Because the food aid program was designed to help people buy food to make or consume at home, rather than eating at a restaurant, SNAP benefits can't be used to buy foods that are hot when sold, such as soup. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, told Peterson, "They can buy candy bars or Coca-Cola, but they can't buy rotisserie chicken or green beans at the hot food bar—it's ridiculous."