JACKSON — Governor Tate Reeves announced a new push to restrict the types of foods that can be bought with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, seeking federal approval to ban sugary snacks and drinks while allowing the purchase of hot prepared chicken.
Reeves said his office has requested a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service that would prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to buy processed foods and beverages with sugar, corn syrup, or similar ingredients listed among the first two on their labels.
“When taxpayers fund these things, they do so strategically,” Reeves said. “It makes no sense at all to fund sugar instead of hearty nutritious meals. That’s why we’re amending our food stamp rules to allow good sustaining food like rotisserie chickens and disallow sugary candy and drinks.”
Under the proposal, processed foods containing sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup as the first or second ingredient would no longer qualify for purchase with SNAP benefits. This would not affect basic cooking staples like raw sugar or other single-ingredient items used for baking.
Beverages that list carbonated water and sugar or syrup as primary ingredients would also be banned. However, drinks made with artificial or low-calorie sweeteners such as aspartame would remain eligible.
At the same time, the governor’s plan would expand SNAP’s eligibility to include hot prepared chicken, such as rotisserie or non-breaded, non-fried options. The state also plans to work with the Double Up Food Bucks Program to encourage purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables when hot prepared chicken is bought.
Reeves said the waiver aligns with efforts by the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to “Make America Healthy Again.”
If approved, Mississippi would join a growing number of states implementing stricter nutritional standards for SNAP purchases.
Welfare benefits are a hand-up for those in desperate, temporary need. And when taxpayers fund these things, they do so strategically. They're trying to help their neighbors into a better life – a more fulfilling one. That means a job you can be proud of, and a lifestyle that is…
