Agriculture Committee, Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This legislation amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to designate specific foods and food products eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must establish these regulations, explicitly excluding items like alcoholic beverages, tobacco, soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts from SNAP eligibility. When designating eligible foods, the Secretary must prioritize items that provide nutrients often lacking in American diets and promote the health of SNAP participants, considering nutrition science, public health, and cultural eating patterns. Furthermore, the Secretary must ensure the fat, sugar, and salt content of these foods is appropriate. The bill mandates a scientific review of designated foods at least every five years, allowing for amendments based on current scientific knowledge and public health concerns. It also permits state agencies, with Secretary approval, to substitute nutritionally equivalent foods to accommodate diverse cultural eating patterns.
This legislation amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to designate specific foods and food products eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must establish these regulations, explicitly excluding items like alcoholic beverages, tobacco, soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts from SNAP eligibility. When designating eligible foods, the Secretary must prioritize items that provide nutrients often lacking in American diets and promote the health of SNAP participants, considering nutrition science, public health, and cultural eating patterns. Furthermore, the Secretary must ensure the fat, sugar, and salt content of these foods is appropriate. The bill mandates a scientific review of designated foods at least every five years, allowing for amendments based on current scientific knowledge and public health concerns. It also permits state agencies, with Secretary approval, to substitute nutritionally equivalent foods to accommodate diverse cultural eating patterns.