A new law will soon prohibit Texas’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients from using food stamps to purchase sweetened beverages and candy. Senate Bill 379 — one of three bills under Texas’ “Make America Healthy Again” initiative that Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law last year — will affect millions of Texans starting April 1.
What can’t I buy with my SNAP benefits? SB 379 bans the purchase of any sweetened drinks that contain 5 grams or more of added sugar per serv- ing or any amount of artificial sweetener, such as regular and most diet sodas or drinks made with less than 50% vegetable or fruit juice. Under the bill, candy is banned, including candy bars, gum, taffy, nuts, raisins or fruits that have been candied, crystalized, glazed or coated with chocolate, yogurt or caramel.
What can I buy with my SNAP benefits? Beverages with less than 5 grams of added sugars that are not artificial can be purchased. Stevia, stevia leaf extract and monk fruit are not considered artificial sweet eners. These items can be purchased in place of candy:
• Products used exclusively for cooking such as chocolate bits and sprinkles
• Frozen fruit items containing no more than 50% percent fruit juice by volume, which could include some ice creams, sherbets, sorbets, frozen yogurts, ice pops and juice pops How can I tell if a food item falls under the new SNAP restrictions? Customers can find an item’s sugar content in its nutrition label, typically on the back of the packaging. The amount of added sugar is usually found under the “Total Carbohydrate” category.
The list of ingredients will also contain information about artificial sweeteners. Plus, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has provided language for retailers to use to produce signage in stores, according to the Texas Retailers Association.
Was there any opposi- tion to the bill? While the bill passed with bipartisan support, some Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about its longterm effects.
Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, supported the bill’s goal but said there are people in urban and rural areas who don’t have access to nutritious foods, and foods that are not as healthy may be the only options to fend off hunger.
Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, said if the Legislature is really concerned about Texans getting proper nutrition, it should double the value of food stamps for things like fresh produce.
