New Arizona SNAP Soda Law Could Stigmatize Low-Income Families

I saw a sign in the window of a fast-food restaurant the other day. It read in very tall, bold letters: "We Take EBT!"

I paused; I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Not only are taxpayers footing the bill for someone's salt and fat-laden lunch, but it goes against everything federal and state food assistance programs were meant to do.

SNAP and EBT Benefits in Arizona

EBT, or Electronic Benefits Transfer, is part of the USDA's SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

The word nutrition is literally in the title. The program is administered state by state, but its roots are informed by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. (There's that word again!)

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There's been a lot of debate about funding unhealthy food and beverages with taxpayer dollars. An article in Newsweek reports that members of Congress are looking to restrict the purchase of unhealthy foods with federal benefits.

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However, Arizona is ahead of the curve. They've removed certain items from the list of foods they'll fund with public money, explicitly banning the purchase of soft drinks with EBT.

Arizona Passes Bill Restricting Soda Purchases with EBT

Arizona House Bill 2165 just passed the AZ House of Representatives, and it could be the bellwether for future nutrition-targeted legislation. This legislation restricts SNAP benefits from being used to buy soda and soft drinks.

More than 927,000 people in Arizona are enrolled in the SNAP benefit program. Restricting items like soda or highly sweetened beverages could be significant. With Arizona HB 2165, recipients would no longer be able to buy these items with SNAP benefits.

The bill requests a waiver from the federal food stamp program that "shall prohibit enrollees in the supplemental nutrition assistance program from purchasing soda using program benefits."

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The bill defines soda as any beverage containing more than 1 gram of added sugar or artificial sweetener. That could also take a lot of non-carbonated beverages off the approved EBT purchase list.

Pros and Cons of Restricting EBT Soda Purchase in Arizona

Supporters hope the restriction will encourage healthier eating habits in low-income families.

A broad array of studies have linked sugary beverages to obesity and other health issues. Creating restrictions, they argue, will make a healthier public and reduce healthcare costs, particularly around issues like diabetes and other diet-related diseases.

Critics say removing unhealthy items like soda would stigmatize SNAP recipients and make them feel judged for their food choices.

It could also create confusion and frustration at the checkout line, making the store into the "diet police" if someone tries to make an unauthorized soda purchase.

Whether or not you agree, passing HB 2165 in Arizona could be the beginning of changes to SNAP benefits. Federal restrictions on food stamps to pay for unhealthy foods may be next.

Sources: USDA | Arizona Legislature | Tucson Sentinel | Newsweek | GovInfo | Diabetes Journal | AP News | Voice for Nature Foundation