April 10, 2025
“American taxpayers are footing the bill on both ends of a broken system: first, by subsidizing the consumption of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods, and then again by covering the skyrocketing health care costs caused by the chronic diseases those foods contribute to. In effect, we’re paying to make ourselves sick—and then paying again to treat the sickness.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) Healthy SNAP Act. The bill would exclude soft drinks, candy, ice cream and prepared desserts from being purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“American taxpayers are footing the bill on both ends of a broken system: first, by subsidizing the consumption of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods, and then again by covering the skyrocketing health care costs caused by the chronic diseases those foods contribute to. In effect, we’re paying to make ourselves sick—and then paying again to treat the sickness,” said Husted.
The bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure SNAP-eligible food promotes recipients’ health and reflects nutrition science as well as public health concerns. The bill would also require the Agriculture Department to review which foods qualify under SNAP every five years so that SNAP food guidelines reflect current nutrition data.
Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) also cosponsored the bill.
Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.
Full text of the bill is available here.
Background:
SNAP exists to alleviate hunger and improve the health of low-income Americans. More than 42 million people—roughly one in eight Americans—receive SNAP benefits. However, recipients spend more than 20% of all SNAP dollars on soda, candy, desserts and other junk food. That junk food cost is projected to total $240 billion over the next decade.
Preventing SNAP dollars from purchasing junk food would help vulnerable Americans avoid chronic disease while saving taxpayer resources. Obesity and its associated comorbidities cost the U.S. health care system nearly $173 billion annually.