Arkansas will begin restricting what can be purchased using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits starting July 1 after receiving federal approval for the changes.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Monday at an Edwards Food Giant in North Little Rock that Arkansas will no longer allow SNAP benefits to be used to purchase soda, candy, and fruit and vegetable drinks containing less than 50% natural juice. The announcement comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the state’s waiver request earlier this year.
Sanders said Arkansas was one of the first states to ask the Trump administration for permission to make the change.
“We sent a letter to President Trump before he even took office announcing we wanted to remove soft drinks and candy from food stamps,” Sanders said. “Last spring we followed up with an official waiver, and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins approved Arkansas’ reforms, allowing them to go into effect July 1.”
Arkansas joins Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah in implementing SNAP purchase restrictions. A federal judge last week blocked several other state's attempts to ban sugary foods and soda from SNAP, saying Sec. Rollins didn't have the legal authority to approve the waivers. The ruling did not impact Arkansas.
Sanders said the changes are intended to improve health outcomes by encouraging SNAP recipients to purchase more nutritious foods. She pointed to Arkansas’ high rates of obesity, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, arguing the state should not be paying for both unhealthy foods through SNAP and the medical costs associated with chronic diseases through Medicaid.
“Food stamps are supposed to be a nutrition program,” Sanders said. “The taxpayer is not going to subsidize candy and soft drinks.”
The governor said the state will continue moving forward despite opposition to the policy.
“Arkansas is moving full speed ahead because we won’t wait around while people get less and less healthy and we spend more and more taxpayer dollars trying to fix the problem,” Sanders said.
State officials say the changes are intended to encourage healthier food purchases among SNAP recipients. Arkansas Department of Human Services officials say more than 223,000 Arkansans receive benefits through the program.
Retailers say they have spent months preparing for the rollout.
“Today marks an important step for Arkansas families, retailers and taxpayers,” said Steve Goode, executive director of the Arkansas Grocers and Retail Merchants Association.
“This waiver is designed to encourage the purchase of nutritious foods while ensuring taxpayer benefits are used in ways that lead to better health outcomes for Arkansas families. We believe SNAP should not only put food on the table, but it should also build healthier communities.”
Goode said stores have updated checkout software, trained employees and worked with the Department of Human Services and technology partners ahead of July 1. He asked shoppers to be patient as retailers adjust to changes during the busy Independence Day holiday week.
The state is contracting with Sifter Solutions, a platform whose barcode database will determine which products qualify for purchase under Arkansas’ new rules.
The Department of Human Services also announced the launch of the Arkansas SNAP Companion app, available on Apple and Android devices. Mary Franklin, director of the Division of County Operations at DHS, said the app allows shoppers to scan products to determine whether they qualify under the new rules before reaching the checkout line. It also includes nutrition information and budget-friendly recipes developed in partnership with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
