Montana to Implement SNAP Junk-Food Purchase Restrictions — See What Other States Have Bans
The waiver exempts milk, fruit juice and protein bars, and state officials say 20% of SNAP spending goes to unhealthy foods, according to USDA.
- On Tuesday, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins approved a waiver allowing Montana to restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from purchasing soda, candy, and certain junk food.
- Governor Greg Gianforte sought the waiver to align SNAP purchases with national Dietary Guidelines and target items linked to obesity and Type 2 diabetes, after Senate Bill 354 died in the House last year.
- A USDA study found approximately 20 percent of yearly SNAP spending goes toward unhealthy items; the waiver restricts sugary drinks exceeding 10 grams of sugar per 8 ounces and energy drinks while protecting milk and 100 percent fruit juice.
- Montana is now the 23rd state to join the Make America Healthy Again initiative, with Human Services Director Charlie Brereton calling the move a critical step in addressing diet-related chronic conditions.
- The state will implement these changes later this year, though opponents argue the restrictions stigmatize low-income families who may purchase these items because they are less expensive or more accessible.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Montana candy, soft drink SNAP waiver gets federal approval
New rules ban benefit usage on certain items, as state releases waiver.
Montana to implement SNAP junk-food purchase restrictions — See what other states have bans
Montana is the latest state that will implement restrictions on food purchases by SNAP recipients and ban them from using their taxpayer-funded food assistance benefit to purchase junk food, joining 22 other states to implement bans.
Montana to ban certain sugary foods from SNAP benefits
The state of Montana has gotten approval from the federal government to stop people receiving SNAP food benefits from using that money to buy soda or high-sugar processed foods.The people that rely on food stamps are now going to get higher-nutrition food, Gianforte told MTN Tuesday. What that means is, there's a direct correlation between high-sugar-content foods and cardiovascular disease and obesity, so these people on food stamps are going t…
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